New and Ongoing Wildlife Mortality Events Nationwide
USGS and a network of partners across the country work on documenting wildlife mortality events in order to provide timely and accurate information on locations, species and causes of death. This information is used by natural resource managers, researchers, public health officials and legislators to help design disease prevention and mitigation strategies, to address interconnections between human, domestic animal and wildlife disease, and to assist in identification of 'normal' disease issues vs. biosecurity concerns.
These data are not all-inclusive. Information on some outbreaks may not be received until months or years after the event, but efforts continue to make the information as complete as possible. For information on previous wildlife mortality events and events that used to be on this page, please see the Quarterly Mortality Reports.
More information on reporting an event can be found at the event reporting page.
Date last updated :
Nov 04, 2008
Mortality Begin Date |
End Date |
State |
County |
Species |
Diagnosis |
Estimated Mortality to Date |
NWHC Contact |
10/24/2008 | ongoing | OR | MARION | Cackling Goose | Aspergillosis | < 25 | Schuler |
10/24/2008 | 10/30/2008 | OH | STARK | European Starling | Open | ~ 200 | Ballmann |
10/24/2008 | ongoing | AR | LAWRENCE | Unidentified Deer | Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease suspect | ~ 25 | Schuler |
10/20/2008 | ongoing | MN | ITASCA | American Coot, Lesser Scaup | Parasitism suspect | < 150 | Ballmann |
10/19/2008 | ongoing | OK | ALFALFA | Common Grackle | Trauma suspect | ~ 100 | Schuler |
09/29/2008 | 09/29/2008 | WV | TUCKER | Blackpoll Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Magnolia Warbler, Ovenbird | Trauma | < 550 | Ballmann |
09/23/2008 | ongoing | CA | SHASTA | Western Toad, Long-toed Salamander | Viral Infection (suspect): Iridovirus | < 50 | Schuler |
09/22/2008 | 10/15/2008 | SD | BUTTE, LAWRENCE | Unidentified Deer | Epizootic hemorrhagic disease | ~ 25 | Schuler |
09/20/2008 | ongoing | FL | MARTIN | Black-bellied Tree Duck, Domestic Mallard Duck | Open | < 25 | Ballmann |
09/15/2008 | ongoing | FL | BROWARD | Muscovy Duck, Mallard | Open: botulism suspect | < 25 | Ballmann |
09/15/2008 | ongoing | WI | LA CROSSE | American Coot, Blue-winged Teal, Lesser Scaup, Double-crested Cormorant, Ruddy Duck | Parasitism: Cyathocotyle bushiensis, Parasitism: Sphaeridiotrema globulus | > 425 | Ballmann |
09/10/2008 | ongoing | WI | MILWAUKEE | Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Double-crested Cormorant | Botulism suspect | ~ 50 | Ballmann |
09/08/2008 | 09/30/2008 | MN | DAKOTA | Mallard | Botulism suspect | < 50 | Ballmann |
09/08/2008 | ongoing | CA | SACRAMENTO | Mallard | Botulism suspect | < 25 | Schuler |
09/04/2008 | ongoing | CA | ALAMEDA | Mallard | Botulism suspect | < 25 | Schuler |
09/04/2008 | 09/05/2008 | UT | CACHE | Mallard | Botulism type C | < 10 | Schuler |
08/29/2008 | 10/01/2008 | ND | EMMONS | Mallard, Gadwall | Botulism type C | < 75 | Schuler |
08/29/2008 | 09/12/2008 | WA | WALLA WALLA | White-tailed Deer | Epizootic hemorrhagic disease | ~ 50 | Schuler |
08/27/2008 | ongoing | MT | LEWIS AND CLARK | Long-legged Bat | Open | ~ 50 | Schuler |
08/25/2008 | 09/01/2008 | MT | TETON | American White Pelican | Emaciation: starvation | < 10 | Schuler |
08/24/2008 | 08/24/2008 | MO | SHANNON | Eastern Pipistrelle | Trauma | < 25 | Ballmann |
08/21/2008 | 08/27/2008 | ND | GRAND FORKS | Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Franklin's Gull | Botulism type C, Aspergillosis | < 25 | Schuler |
08/11/2008 | ongoing | CA | IMPERIAL | American White Pelican, California Brown Pelican, Black-necked Stilt, Unidentified Gull | Botulism type C | ~ 200 | Schuler |
08/10/2008 | 08/21/2008 | -- | MIDWAY ATOLL | Laysan Duck | Botulism type C | < 150 | Schuler |
08/10/2008 | 09/22/2008 | WI | DODGE | Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Ring-billed Gull, Unidentified Shorebird, Unidentified Gull | Botulism type C | ~ 450 | Ballmann |
08/10/2008 | 09/08/2008 | CA | SISKIYOU | Northern Pintail, Gadwall, Mallard | Botulism type C | ~ 1000 | Schuler |
08/08/2008 | 08/25/2008 | MI | OAKLAND | White-tailed Deer | Epizootic hemorrhagic disease | < 25 | Ballmann |
08/04/2008 | ongoing | ND | MCLEAN | Mallard, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Blue-winged Teal, American Coot | Botulism type C | < 150 | Schuler |
08/01/2008 | 08/25/2008 | SD | BROWN | Redhead Duck, Unidentified Gull, Unidentified Grebe, Unidentified Duck | Botulism type C | < 100 | Schuler |
07/31/2008 | 08/20/2008 | MD | ANNE ARUNDEL | Bog Turtle | Viral Infection: Ranavirus | < 10 | Ballmann |
07/29/2008 | ongoing | CA | MONTEREY | Stickleback | Open | < 100 | Schuler |
07/27/2008 | 07/29/2008 | AL | MORGAN | Canada Goose | Open: emaciation | < 50 | Ballmann |
07/25/2008 | 08/01/2008 | AK | VALDEZ - CORDOVA | Black-legged Kittiwake | Trauma, Emaciation | < 50 | Schuler |
07/25/2008 | 09/01/2008 | SD | DAY | American White Pelican | Viral Infection: West Nile | < 50 | Schuler |
07/21/2008 | ongoing | NE | FILLMORE | Plains Leopard Frog | Viral Infection: Ranavirus | < 10 | Schuler |
07/20/2008 | 09/30/2008 | MT | PHILLIPS | Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall | Botulism type C | ~ 2000 | Schuler |
07/16/2008 | 07/30/2008 | MD | CECIL | Red Bat | Trauma | ~ 10 | Ballmann |
07/15/2008 | ongoing | FL | FRANKLIN | Unidentified Gull | Open | ~ 25 | Ballmann |
07/14/2008 | ongoing | CA | ALAMEDA | Mallard, Canada Goose | Botulism suspect | < 25 | Schuler |
07/14/2008 | ongoing | NE | CLAY | Plains Leopard Frog | Viral Infection: Ranavirus, Parasitism suspect | ~ 200 | Schuler |
07/14/2008 | 09/01/2008 | NV | WASHOE | Rock Dove, Mourning Dove | Parasitism: trichomoniasis | ~ 300 | Schuler |
07/14/2008 | ongoing | MN | ST LOUIS | Double-crested Cormorant, American White Pelican, Ring-billed Gull | Newcastle Disease Virus, Emaciation, Trauma | ~ 1250 | Ballmann |
07/11/2008 | 07/27/2008 | DC | DIST OF COLUMBIA | Mallard | Botulism type C | < 50 | Ballmann |
07/10/2008 | 09/30/2008 | MN | LAC QUI PARLE | American White Pelican, Unidentified Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Egret, Canada Goose | Viral Infection: West Nile, Undetermined, Newcastle Disease Virus | ~ 2800 | Ballmann |
07/03/2008 | 08/20/2008 | ND | STUTSMAN | Black-crowned Night-Heron, Unidentified Gull, American White Pelican | Emaciation, Salmonellosis, Viral Infection: West Nile | < 25 | Schuler |
07/03/2008 | 07/31/2008 | UT | BOX ELDER | California Gull | Undetermined | < 25 | Schuler |
07/01/2008 | 07/27/2008 | WI | LA CROSSE | Eastern Bluebird | Emaciation | ~ 100 | Ballmann |
07/01/2008 | 07/18/2008 | NV | WASHOE | Canada Goose, Mallard, Gadwall, American Coot, Rock Dove | Botulism type C | < 25 | Schuler |
07/01/2008 | ongoing | TX | BREWSTER | Mourning Dove | Parasitism: trichomoniasis | ~ 10 | Schuler |
07/01/2008 | 09/01/2008 | MT | GALLATIN | Elk, Unidentified Deer | Bacterial Infection: anthrax | < 25 | Schuler |
07/01/2008 | 07/15/2008 | MA | MIDDLESEX | Mallard | Botulism suspect | < 25 | Ballmann |
06/30/2008 | ongoing | MI | BENZIE | Caspian Tern, Ring-billed Gull, Least Sandpiper, Double-crested Cormorant, Common Merganser | Botulism type E | < 25 | Ballmann |
06/30/2008 | ongoing | MN | FARIBAULT | Double-crested Cormorant, American White Pelican, Ring-billed Gull, Common Loon, Great Blue Heron | Newcastle Disease Virus, Viral Infection: Avian Paramyxovirus 1, Emaciation | ~ 1000 | Ballmann |
06/30/2008 | 07/15/2008 | WI | BUFFALO | Little Brown Bat | Undetermined | < 10 | Ballmann |
06/29/2008 | 07/03/2008 | OH | FRANKLIN | Mallard, Hybrid Mallard Duck | Botulism type C | < 25 | Ballmann |
06/27/2008 | ongoing | MI | MASON, EMMET, OCEANA | Ring-billed Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Unidentified Tern, Herring Gull | Botulism type E | < 75 | Ballmann |
06/25/2008 | 07/22/2008 | WI | WOOD | Little Brown Bat | Emaciation | ~ 10 | Ballmann |
06/20/2008 | 07/14/2008 | ND | MOUNTRAIL | Mallard, Gadwall, Eared Grebe, Ruddy Duck, Franklin's Gull | Toxicosis: salt | < 150 | Schuler |
06/18/2008 | ongoing | CA | SANTA CRUZ | California Red-legged Frog | Open | < 10 | Schuler |
06/16/2008 | 07/21/2008 | WI | WINNEBAGO | Little Brown Bat, Big Brown Bat | Pasteurellosis | ~ 50 | Ballmann |
06/01/2008 | ongoing | AZ | MARICOPA | Mallard, Red-Eared Slider Turtle, Unidentified Domestic Or Hybrid Goose, Unidentified Passerine, Canada Goose | Botulism type C | < 75 | Schuler |
06/01/2008 | 07/31/2008 | WI | MONROE | Eastern Bluebird | Parasitism: Simulidae, Emaciation: starvation suspect | < 100 | Ballmann |
06/01/2008 | 07/15/2008 | WI | GRANT | Little Brown Bat | Emaciation: starvation suspect | < 50 | Ballmann |
05/26/2008 | 08/18/2008 | PA | ERIE | Ring-billed Gull, American Crow, Common Loon, Great Blue Heron, Unidentified Waterfowl | Botulism type C, Trauma | < 50 | Ballmann |
05/26/2008 | ongoing | NE | KEITH | House Sparrow | Viral Infection suspect | < 25 | Schuler |
05/21/2008 | 07/07/2008 | ND | MCLEAN | Ring-billed Gull | Pneumonia, Airsacculitis, Emaciation | ~ 50 | Schuler |
05/20/2008 | ongoing | WA | CLALLAM | Black-tailed Deer | Predation, Undetermined | < 10 | Schuler |
05/18/2008 | 07/08/2008 | RI | WASHINGTON | Spotted Salamander, Marbled Salamander, Wood Frog | Viral Infection: Ranavirus | ~ 81000 | Ramsay |
05/15/2008 | 08/15/2008 | SD | FALL RIVER | Black-footed Ferret, Black-tailed Prairie Dog | Sylvatic plague | ~ 100 | Schuler |
05/01/2008 | ongoing | AZ | MARICOPA | Muscovy Duck, Mallard | Botulism suspect | < 50 | Schuler |
04/01/2008 | ongoing | VT | BENNINGTON, WINDSOR, RUTLAND | Little Brown Bat, Indiana Bat | Open | < 25 | Ballmann |
Explanation of fields:
Mortality begin date is the date the mortality began -- for most wildlife disease events, this is an estimate only, as carcasses may not be noticed immediately.
End date is again usually an estimate of the last day new carcasses were found.
State and country identify the area in which the mortality is occurring. NOTE: avian mortality events may cover several counties and possibly multiple states given the migratory nature of many species.
Species shown on the table include up to 5 of the species involved in the event. In some cases, group identifiers like 'waterfowl' or 'shorebirds' have been used instead of specific names when a large number of different species are involved.
Diagnosis includes a final diagnosis, if known, with no qualifiers; a suspected diagnosis once preliminary investigations have been made; or an indication that tests are still in process. NOTE: In some instances, where mortality occurred but no specimens were sent to NWHC or another diagnostic laboratory or -- in rare instances -- where tests could not definitely identify a trigger for the mortality, the cause of death may never be determined. Such events are identified with the word 'open' in the diagnosis column.
The estimated mortality provides some indication of the severity of the event. Numbers may change rapidly from one week to the next.
The contact field provides the name of the individual to contact for more information about the mortality event.
NOTE: If you find a dead bird, mammal, reptile or amphibian, please contact your state natural resource agency first. They will know the proper reporting procedures for your area. Contact information may be found online or in the government pages of your local telephone book.
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