Spring goose hunters should be aware of bird flu risk: experts

Michelle Allan · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 07, 2025 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 11 minutes ago

As galore First Nations successful northwestern Ontario cogwheel up for the outpouring goose hunt, migratory birds are flying northbound from the United States, which is grappling with a question of avian influenza impacting millions of birds and 70 people.

While a virology adept says hunting, dressing and eating geese could person important risk, elemental prevention measures trim hazard greatly. 

The migratory birds flying to bluish Ontario could bring the avian microorganism with them, said Earl Brown, a prof emeritus of virology astatine the University of Ottawa. Hunters should support an oculus retired for signs of corruption successful waterfowl, helium said. 

"If you spot a vertebrate that doesn't look mean and steadfast flying around, don't instrumentality it, don't provender it to the dogs," said Brown.

The microorganism tin dispersed done water, blood, dormant birds oregon feces, helium said. Dressing geese and eating earthy humor oregon nutrient are immoderate of the higher hazard activities, said Brown. 

"If you're retired harvesting waterfowl, you person to beryllium much cautious due to the fact that that's wherever it's spreading and residing astatine the highest amounts," said Brown. Large numbers of Canada geese and snowfall geese person been killed by vertebrate flu, helium said. 

Brown said infected birds volition often amusement signs of encephalon oregon bosom damage. This tin include twisted necks, tilted heads, head swelling, reddish eyes, tremors or drooping wings, helium said. They whitethorn also have occupation flying oregon walking straight.

He recommended keeping a region from immoderate birds that look retired of sorts oregon dormant birds. Children successful peculiar are astatine a precocious hazard of contracting avian flu, said Brown. 

Anyone who accidently comes into interaction with a dormant vertebrate that could beryllium infected should hide it extracurricular and lavation their hands with hot, soapy h2o after, said Brown. 

No reported cases successful area: SLFNHA

While immoderate assemblage members person been inquiring astir the avian flu virus, Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority (SLFNHA) Vice President of Community Health, Janet Gordon, said determination hasn't been immoderate confirmed cases successful the 33 First Nations it serves successful the Sioux Lookout region. 

SLFNHA has issued an advisory informing not to devour immoderate birds that look sick. Gordon said she's assured radical volition instrumentality appropriate measures to forestall the dispersed of vertebrate flu. 

"I deliberation radical up northbound know. They've been hunting for many, galore years," said Gordon. "People grip birds oregon animals that look sick with caution."

She said galore radical volition beryllium looking guardant to the outpouring goose hunt.  

"Just support a lookout for thing that doesn't look right," she said.