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.
For additional information on mortalities
- In the Eastern half of the United States, please contact Dr. Anne Ballman (608-270-2445 or aballmann@usgs.gov)
- In the Western half of the United States, please contact Dr. Krysten Schuler (608-270-2447 or kschuler@usgs.gov)
More information on reporting an event can be found at the event reporting page.
Date last updated : Aug 13, 2009
Mortality Begin Date |
End Date |
State |
County |
Species |
Diagnosis |
Estimated Mortality to Date |
Reported By |
08/04/2009 | ongoing | ND | BURKE | Mourning Dove, Unidentified Sparrow | Open: trauma suspect | < 10 | USGS NWHC |
08/02/2009 | ongoing | CO | GARFIELD | Townsend's Big-eared Bat | Open: emaciation suspect | < 25 | CO State University, USGS NWHC |
07/29/2009 | ongoing | UT | DAVIS | American Avocet, Mallard, Gadwall, Green-winged Teal, Wilson's Phalarope | Botulism | < 400 | USGS NWHC |
07/27/2009 | ongoing | UT | BEAVER | Brazilian Free-tailed Bat | Open: trauma suspect | < 350 | USGS NWHC, |
07/23/2009 | 08/03/2009 | MT | GALLATIN | Rock Dove | Toxicosis suspect | < 50 | USGS NWHC |
07/20/2009 | ongoing | ND | MOUNTRAIL | Ring-billed Gull, American White Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Least Tern, Piping Plover | Salmonellosis suspect, Trauma suspect | ~ 200 | USGS NWHC |
07/18/2009 | ongoing | IN | MARTIN | Little Brown Bat | Open | < 75 | USGS NWHC |
07/15/2009 | ongoing | ID | LATAH | Columbia Spotted Frog, Pacific Treefrog | Open | ~ 200 | USGS NWHC |
07/15/2009 | 07/24/2009 | IN | JASPER | Big Brown Bat | Open: emaciation | < 50 | USGS NWHC |
07/13/2009 | 07/21/2009 | OR | MARION | Townsend's Big-eared Bat | Rabies, Emaciation | < 25 | USGS NWHC |
07/12/2009 | 07/13/2009 | TN | DAVIDSON | Canada Goose, Unidentified Duck | Botulism suspect | < 50 | USGS NWHC |
07/12/2009 | 07/15/2009 | ND | BURKE | Franklin's Gull | Emaciation, Trauma suspect | ~ 200 | USGS NWHC |
07/12/2009 | 07/15/2009 | ND | WILLIAMS | Ring-billed Gull | Emaciation, Botulism type C, Trauma suspect | ~ 75 | USGS NWHC |
07/12/2009 | 07/19/2009 | WA | FERRY | Unidentified Bat | Open | < 25 | USGS NWHC |
07/07/2009 | ongoing | ME | SAGADAHOC | Common Eider, Herring Gull, Double-crested Cormorant | Open | < 25 | USGS NWHC |
07/01/2009 | ongoing | OH | OTTAWA | Lake Erie Water Snake | Open | < 10 | USGS NWHC |
06/29/2009 | 07/17/2009 | WI | DODGE | Mallard, American White Pelican, Ring-billed Gull | Botulism type C | < 25 | USGS NWHC |
06/25/2009 | 06/26/2009 | OH | CUYAHOGA | Ring-billed Gull | Toxicosis: Oil, unidentified | ~ 550 | - no diagnostics done - |
06/24/2009 | ongoing | MA | BARNSTABLE | Common Tern | Predation | < 25 | USGS NWHC |
06/23/2009 | 07/09/2009 | FL | PINELLAS | Mallard | Botulism type C | < 25 | USGS NWHC |
06/22/2009 | 07/04/2009 | MI | BENZIE | Double-crested Cormorant, Common Merganser, Ring-billed Gull, Piping Plover | Botulism type E | < 75 | USGS NWHC |
06/18/2009 | ongoing | CT | WINDHAM, LITCHFIELD, FAIRFIELD | Big Brown Bat | Open: emaciation, Predation | ~ 25 | USGS NWHC |
06/15/2009 | ongoing | VA | FREDERICK | European Starling | Toxicosis suspect | < 25 | USGS NWHC |
06/15/2009 | 06/18/2009 | FL | DADE | Muscovy Duck | Botulism type C | < 25 | USGS NWHC |
06/15/2009 | 06/17/2009 | OH | DELAWARE | Canada Goose | Emaciation: starvation | < 25 | USGS NWHC |
06/14/2009 | 06/15/2009 | ND | WARD | American White Pelican | Undetermined | < 10 | USGS NWHC |
06/14/2009 | 06/15/2009 | NY | QUEENS | Canada Goose | Undetermined | < 25 | Cornell University |
06/10/2009 | 06/17/2009 | IL | COOK | Wood Duck, Mallard, Rock Dove | Botulism type C, Undetermined | < 25 | University of IL |
06/08/2009 | 06/15/2009 | OH | CUYAHOGA | Common Grackle | Undetermined | < 10 | USGS NWHC |
06/05/2009 | ongoing | MN | SWIFT | American White Pelican, Ring-billed Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Unidentified Domestic Or Hybrid Goose, Unidentified Egret | Open | ~ 750 | USGS NWHC |
06/01/2009 | ongoing | IN | HANCOCK | Big Brown Bat | Open: emaciation | < 100 | USGS NWHC |
06/01/2009 | ongoing | MA | BERKSHIRE | Bog Turtle | Open | < 5 | USGS NWHC, Tufts University |
06/01/2009 | 06/16/2009 | WY | JOHNSON | Tiger Salamander | Viral Infection: Ranavirus | < 25 | USGS NWHC |
06/01/2009 | 06/09/2009 | NV | CLARK | Eared Grebe | Emaciation | < 50 | USGS NWHC |
06/01/2009 | ongoing | NJ | HUNTERDON | Little Brown Bat | Open | < 50 | USGS NWHC |
05/28/2009 | 06/12/2009 | MN | HENNEPIN | Mallard, Canada Goose | Botulism type C | < 25 | USGS NWHC |
05/27/2009 | 06/18/2009 | ND | MCHENRY, RAMSEY | Franklin's Gull | Predation, Aspergillosis | ~ 100 | USGS NWHC |
05/17/2009 | 05/31/2009 | MA | HAMPSHIRE | Wood Frog | Viral Infection: Ranavirus | ~ 2000 | USGS NWHC |
05/15/2009 | ongoing | IN | PORTER | Central Newt | Fungal Infection: NOS | < 5 | USGS NWHC |
05/14/2009 | 05/28/2009 | ND | MCLEAN | Ring-billed Gull | Aspergillosis, Trauma | < 50 | USGS NWHC |
05/06/2009 | ongoing | MA | BARNSTABLE | Common Eider | Emaciation | < 75 | USGS NWHC |
05/04/2009 | ongoing | TN | BLOUNT | Spotted Salamander, Marbled Salamander, Wood Frog | Viral Infection: Ranavirus | < 10 | - other - |
05/01/2009 | 05/04/2009 | OR | UNION | Barn Owl | Emaciation: starvation | < 10 | USGS NWHC |
04/30/2009 | 05/10/2009 | MN | ITASCA | Lesser Scaup, American Coot | Parasitism: Cyathocotyle bushiensis, Parasitism: Sphaeridiotrema globulus | ~ 200 | USGS NWHC |
04/26/2009 | 05/10/2009 | IL, IA | MERCER, LOUISA | Red-Eared Slider Turtle | Pneumonia | < 25 | USGS NWHC |
04/16/2009 | 06/15/2009 | AR | GARLAND | Eastern Bluebird, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Carolina Chickadee | Parasitism: Simulidae | ~ 200 | USGS NWHC |
04/15/2009 | 06/20/2009 | CA | SAN MATEO, MARIN, SAN FRANCISCO | Brandt's Cormorant, Western Grebe | Emaciation: starvation | ~ 1000 | CA Fish & Game Disease Lab, USGS NWHC |
04/10/2009 | 05/15/2009 | MT | YELLOWSTONE | Lesser Scaup, Tundra Swan, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Redhead Duck | Parasitism: Cyathocotyle bushiensis, Parasitism: Sphaeridiotrema globulus | < 50 | USGS NWHC |
04/09/2009 | 04/13/2009 | NY | PUTNAM, RICHMOND | Southern Leopard Frog | Fungal Infection: chytrid | < 5 | - other - |
04/09/2009 | 05/01/2009 | NM | SANTA FE | Unidentified Rabbit | Tularemia, Sylvatic plague | < 5 | - unknown - |
04/07/2009 | 04/27/2009 | ID | ADA | Mallard | Undetermined | < 25 | USGS NWHC |
04/01/2009 | 04/15/2009 | ID | BLAINE | Pine Siskin | Salmonellosis | < 50 | ID Wildlife Health Lab |
04/01/2009 | 05/15/2009 | AK | FAIRBANKS NORTH STAR, YUKON - KOYUKUK | Boreal Owl, Great Gray Owl | Emaciation | < 25 | USGS NWHC |
03/23/2009 | 05/19/2009 | WI | VERNON, LA CROSSE | American Coot, Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Ruddy Duck, Bufflehead | Parasitism: Sphaeridiotrema globulus, Parasitism: Cyathocotyle bushiensis | ~ 1500 | USGS NWHC |
03/13/2009 | 04/06/2009 | AL | CALHOUN | Pine Siskin | Salmonellosis | < 10 | USGS NWHC |
03/08/2009 | 05/21/2009 | GA | DOUGLAS, CLARKE, DAWSON | American Goldfinch, Pine Siskin, Northern Cardinal, House Finch | Salmonellosis | < 50 | SCWDS |
03/07/2009 | 04/22/2009 | CA | SISKIYOU | Lesser Snow Goose, Ross' Goose, Cackling Goose | Avian cholera | < 1950 | USGS NWHC |
03/06/2009 | 04/15/2009 | NY | WARREN, ALBANY, SARATOGA | Pine Siskin, House Sparrow | Salmonellosis | < 25 | NY Dept Env Cons |
02/20/2009 | 04/15/2009 | MN | CARLTON | Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll | Salmonellosis | ~ 50 | USGS NWHC |
02/20/2009 | 05/18/2009 | WI | ADAMS, BROWN, CHIPPEWA | Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch, Common Redpoll, Purple Finch, House Finch | Salmonellosis | < 300 | WI Dept of Natural Resources |
02/20/2009 | 05/30/2009 | NH | GRAFTON, MERRIMACK | Little Brown Bat, Other, Northern Long-eared Bat | Fungal Infection: White-Nose Syndrome | < 5 | USGS NWHC |
02/19/2009 | 04/12/2009 | MD | GARRETT | Pine Siskin | Salmonellosis | ~ 200 | USGS NWHC |
02/15/2009 | 05/30/2009 | VA | - multiple counties - | Eastern Pipistrelle, Little Brown Bat, Northern Long-eared Bat | Fungal Infection: White-Nose Syndrome | < 50 | USGS NWHC |
02/15/2009 | 04/30/2009 | NC | MOORE, CALDWELL | Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch, Purple Finch | Salmonellosis | < 100 | USGS NWHC, SCWDS |
02/15/2009 | 05/04/2009 | ME | UNKNOWN, YORK, CUMBERLAND | Common Redpoll, American Goldfinch, Pine Siskin | Salmonellosis suspect | ~ 100 | - no diagnostics done - |
02/15/2009 | 05/01/2009 | ID | KOOTENAI | Tundra Swan | Lead poisoning suspect | ~ 150 | - no diagnostics done - |
02/14/2009 | 05/10/2009 | MI | - multiple counties - | Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll, American Goldfinch, Northern Cardinal, Evening Grosbeak | Salmonellosis (S. typhimurium) | ~ 300 | MI Dept of Natural Resources |
02/12/2009 | 04/22/2009 | WV | TUCKER | Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch, Purple Finch | Salmonellosis, Emaciation | ~ 50 | USGS NWHC, SCWDS |
02/09/2009 | 04/30/2009 | VT | ORANGE, RUTLAND, WINDSOR | Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch | Salmonellosis | < 50 | USGS NWHC |
02/02/2009 | 05/30/2009 | MA | HAMPDEN | Little Brown Bat, Northern Long-eared Bat, Eastern Pipistrelle | Fungal Infection: White-Nose Syndrome suspect | ~ 900 | - no diagnostics done - |
01/30/2009 | 05/30/2009 | VT | WASHINGTON, BENNINGTON | Northern Long-eared Bat, Little Brown Bat | Fungal Infection: White-Nose Syndrome suspect, Emaciation | ~ 350000 | USGS NWHC |
01/27/2009 | 05/30/2009 | NY | - multiple counties - | Big Brown Bat, Indiana Bat, Eastern Pipistrelle, Little Brown Bat | Fungal Infection: White-Nose Syndrome | ~ 4450 | USGS NWHC |
01/27/2009 | 05/30/2009 | CT | LITCHFIELD, HARTFORD | Little Brown Bat, Eastern Pipistrelle, Northern Long-eared Bat | Fungal Infection: White-Nose Syndrome | ~ 100 | USGS NWHC |
01/24/2009 | 05/19/2009 | WV | PENDLETON | Eastern Pipistrelle, Northern Long-eared Bat, Little Brown Bat | Fungal Infection: White-Nose Syndrome | ~ 50 | SCWDS, USGS NWHC |
01/15/2009 | 04/03/2009 | TX | NUECES | Eastern Brown Pelican | Emaciation, Parasitism: coccidiosis | < 50 | USGS NWHC |
01/14/2009 | 04/30/2009 | TX | ARANSAS | Whooping Crane | Emaciation, Predation, Viral Infection suspect | < 25 | USGS NWHC |
01/01/2009 | 04/03/2009 | FL | DUVAL, BREVARD | Green Sea Turtle, Loggerhead Sea Turtle | Open | ~ 200 | University of FL |
12/28/2008 | 05/30/2009 | NJ | MORRIS, WARREN | Little Brown Bat, Northern Long-eared Bat | Fungal Infection: White-Nose Syndrome, Emaciation | ~ 10000 | USGS NWHC |
11/25/2008 | 05/30/2009 | PA | MIFFLIN, LACKAWANNA, LUZERNE | Northern Long-eared Bat, Eastern Pipistrelle, Little Brown Bat, Silver-haired Bat | Fungal Infection: White-Nose Syndrome, Emaciation | < 400 | USGS NWHC |
07/29/2008 | ongoing | CA | MONTEREY | Stickleback | Open | < 100 | USGS NWHC |
06/18/2008 | ongoing | CA | SANTA CRUZ | California Red-legged Frog | Open | < 10 | USGS NWHC |
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 'reported by' field indicates the lab(s) or agencies who reported or are working on the mortality event.
USGS NWHC = USGS National Wildlife Health Center USDA NVSL = USDA National Veterinary Services Lab SCWDS = Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study
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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