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 : Apr 27, 2009
Mortality Begin Date |
End Date |
State |
County |
Species |
Diagnosis |
Estimated Mortality to Date |
Reported By |
04/10/2009 | ongoing | MT | YELLOWSTONE | Lesser Scaup, Tundra Swan, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Redhead Duck | Parasitism suspect | < 50 | USGS NWHC |
04/09/2009 | ongoing | NM | SANTA FE | Unidentified Rabbit | Tularemia | < 5 | - unknown - |
04/07/2009 | ongoing | ID | ADA | Mallard | Botulism suspect | < 25 | USGS NWHC |
04/05/2009 | ongoing | VT | ORANGE | Pine Siskin | Salmonellosis suspect | <10 | USGS NWHC |
04/01/2009 | ongoing | ME | (multiple counties) | Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch, Common Redpoll | Salmonellosis suspect | unknown | - no diagnostics done - |
04/01/2009 | ongoing | AK | FAIRBANKS NORTH STAR | Boreal Owl | Open | unknown | USGS NWHC |
03/31/2009 | ongoing | SD | JACKSON | Porcupine | Trauma suspect | ~ 10 | USGS NWHC |
03/28/2009 | ongoing | -- | (CHILE) | Magellanic Penguin | Open | ~ 1500 | - other - |
03/23/2009 | 03/25/2009 | OH | MAHONING | American Robin | Trauma | ~ 10 | USGS NWHC |
03/23/2009 | ongoing | WI | LA CROSSE | Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, American Coot, Canvasback, Bufflehead | Parasitism: Sphaeridiotrema globulus, Parasitism: Cyathocotyle bushiensis | < 150 | USGS NWHC |
03/22/2009 | 03/24/2009 | OH | WAYNE | European Starling | Trauma | < 25 | USGS NWHC |
03/13/2009 | ongoing | AL | CALHOUN | Pine Siskin | Salmonellosis | < 10 | USGS NWHC |
03/09/2009 | ongoing | SD | BENNETT | Mink, Beaver | Tularemia suspect | < 5 | USGS NWHC |
03/08/2009 | ongoing | GA | DOUGLAS, CLARKE | Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch | Salmonellosis | < 25 | SCWDS |
03/05/2009 | 03/31/2009 | WI | SHEBOYGAN, MILWAUKEE, DOOR | Unidentified Goldeneye, Unidentified Scaup | Emaciation | ~ 100 | WI Dept of Natural Resources |
03/04/2009 | 03/05/2009 | IL | LAKE | Lesser Scaup, American Coot, Bufflehead | Open: emaciation | < 10 | USGS NWHC |
03/01/2009 | ongoing | CA | SISKIYOU | Ross' Goose, Cackling Goose | Avian cholera | ~ 1800 | USGS NWHC |
02/27/2009 | 02/28/2009 | FL | HENDRY | Double-crested Cormorant, Roseate Spoonbill, Great Blue Heron | Electrocution suspect | < 25 | FWS Forensics Lab |
02/26/2009 | 02/26/2009 | PA | BLAIR | Canada Goose | Trauma: weather suspect | < 75 | PA Game & Parks Comm |
02/25/2009 | 02/25/2009 | FL | POLK | Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull | Enteritis: hemorrhagic | ~ 25 | FL Fish & Wildlife Cons Comm, USGS NWHC |
02/24/2009 | 03/15/2009 | NE | PHELPS | Green-winged Teal, American Coot, Greater White-fronted Goose, Ross' Goose, American Wigeon | Avian cholera | ~ 350 | USGS NWHC |
02/20/2009 | ongoing | NH | GRAFTON, MERRIMACK | Little Brown Bat, Northern Long-eared Bat, Other | Fungal Infection: White-Nose Syndrome | < 5 | USGS NWHC |
02/20/2009 | ongoing | MN | CARLTON | Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll | Salmonellosis | < 50 | USGS NWHC |
02/20/2009 | ongoing | WI | PORTAGE, WAUPACA, WOOD | Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch, Purple Finch, Common Redpoll, House Finch | Salmonellosis | < 300 | WI Dept of Natural Resources |
02/19/2009 | ongoing | MD | GARRETT | Pine Siskin | Salmonellosis | ~ 100 | USGS NWHC |
02/16/2009 | 03/15/2009 | AZ | MARICOPA | Unidentified Cormorant, Mallard, Unidentified Egret, Great Blue Heron | Undetermined | < 25 | USGS NWHC |
02/15/2009 | ongoing | VA | BATH, GILES | Eastern Pipistrelle, Little Brown Bat | Fungal Infection: White-Nose Syndrome suspect | < 50 | USGS NWHC |
02/15/2009 | ongoing | NC | MOORE, CALDWELL | American Goldfinch, Pine Siskin | Salmonellosis | < 100 | USGS NWHC, SCWDS |
02/12/2009 | ongoing | WV | TUCKER | Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch, Purple Finch | Salmonellosis | < 50 | USGS NWHC |
02/12/2009 | ongoing | AK | FAIRBANKS NORTH STAR | Common Redpoll | Trauma | < 10 | USGS NWHC |
02/10/2009 | 02/12/2009 | FL | BROWARD | Unidentified Egret, Unidentified Duck | Botulism suspect | < 25 | - no diagnostics done - |
02/09/2009 | ongoing | TN | BLOUNT, SEVIER, KNOX | American Goldfinch, Purple Finch, Pine Siskin | Salmonellosis | ~ 50 | SCWDS |
02/07/2009 | 02/08/2009 | CT | NEW HAVEN | Canada Goose | Aspergillosis | < 10 | University of CT Wildlife Lab |
02/04/2009 | 02/07/2009 | MO | COLE | European Starling | Gout: visceral, Toxicosis suspect | ~ 50 | USGS NWHC |
02/03/2009 | 02/05/2009 | NE | KEITH | Common Merganser, Unidentified Goldeneye | Trauma: impact | < 50 | USGS NWHC |
02/02/2009 | 02/04/2009 | WA | PIERCE | Common Merganser, Mallard | Open | < 10 | USGS NWHC |
02/02/2009 | ongoing | MA | HAMPDEN | Little Brown Bat, Northern Long-eared Bat, Eastern Pipistrelle | Fungal Infection: White-Nose Syndrome | ~ 900 | - no diagnostics done - |
02/01/2009 | ongoing | VA | FLOYD | American Goldfinch | Salmonellosis suspect | ~ 100 | - no diagnostics done - |
02/01/2009 | 02/03/2009 | KS | NEOSHO | Green-winged Teal, Mallard | Open | < 75 | USGS NWHC |
01/30/2009 | ongoing | VT | WASHINGTON, BENNINGTON | Northern Long-eared Bat, Little Brown Bat | Fungal Infection: White-Nose Syndrome suspect | < 5 | USGS NWHC |
01/29/2009 | ongoing | CA | MENDOCINO | Bullfrog | Undetermined | < 25 | USGS NWHC |
01/27/2009 | ongoing | NY | ULSTER, ESSEX | Big Brown Bat, Indiana Bat, Eastern Pipistrelle, Little Brown Bat | Fungal Infection: White-Nose Syndrome | < 10 | USGS NWHC |
01/27/2009 | ongoing | CT | LITCHFIELD | Little Brown Bat | Fungal Infection: White-Nose Syndrome | < 10 | USGS NWHC |
01/25/2009 | 01/25/2009 | ME | ANDROSCOGGIN | Mallard | Trauma: impact | < 25 | USGS NWHC |
01/24/2009 | ongoing | WV | PENDLETON | Eastern Pipistrelle, Northern Long-eared Bat, Little Brown Bat | Fungal Infection: White-Nose Syndrome | < 10 | SCWDS, USGS NWHC |
01/20/2009 | 01/24/2009 | CA | SAN JOAQUIN | Tundra Swan | Avian cholera suspect | ~ 50 | - no diagnostics done - |
01/19/2009 | 02/04/2009 | OK | TILLMAN | Ross' Goose | Avian cholera | ~ 100 | USGS NWHC |
01/16/2009 | 02/01/2009 | WA | THURSTON | Pine Siskin, Unidentified Finch | Salmonellosis | < 75 | USGS NWHC |
01/15/2009 | 04/03/2009 | TX | NUECES | Eastern Brown Pelican | Emaciation, Parasitism: coccidiosis | < 50 | USGS NWHC |
01/14/2009 | ongoing | TX | ARANSAS | Whooping Crane | Emaciation, Predation, Viral Infection suspect | < 25 | USGS NWHC |
01/13/2009 | 01/19/2009 | LA | ACADIA | Brown-headed Cowbird, Red-winged Blackbird | Undetermined, Emaciation, Enteritis: hemorrhagic | ~ 150 | NC State Lab, USGS NWHC |
01/12/2009 | 01/14/2009 | OK | MAJOR | Lesser Sandhill Crane | Mycotoxicosis suspect | < 200 | USGS NWHC |
01/11/2009 | 02/05/2009 | CA | KERN | American Coot, Ruddy Duck, Northern Shoveler, Redhead Duck, Gadwall | Avian cholera | ~ 450 | USGS NWHC |
01/09/2009 | 01/12/2009 | VA | RICHMOND | Ring-billed Gull, Laughing Gull, Herring Gull, Unidentified Black-backed Gull | Clostridium perfringens suspect | < 75 | SCWDS |
01/08/2009 | 01/12/2009 | LA | NATCHITOCHES | Lesser Snow Goose, Ross' Goose | Hepatic lipidosis | < 250 | USGS NWHC |
01/08/2009 | 01/16/2009 | IL | PULASKI | Lesser Snow Goose, Northern Shoveler | Avian cholera | ~ 25 | USGS NWHC |
01/06/2009 | 03/11/2009 | NY | DUTCHESS, CLINTON, COLUMBIA | American Crow | Viral Infection: Reo virus-like CPE, Enteritis: hemorrhagic, Airsacculitis | < 75 | NY Dept Env Cons, USGS NWHC |
01/04/2009 | 01/06/2009 | KS | LOGAN | Turkey (Wild) | Toxicosis: zinc phosphide | ~ 50 | University of CA - Davis, SCWDS |
01/01/2009 | 02/04/2009 | -- | (ANTARCTICA) | Adelie Penguin | Starvation, Open | < 10 | USGS NWHC |
01/01/2009 | ongoing | FL | DUVAL, BREVARD | Loggerhead Sea Turtle, Green Sea Turtle | Open | < 200 | University of FL |
12/29/2008 | 01/02/2009 | ID | BONNEVILLE | Mallard | Aspergillosis | ~ 200 | ID Wildlife Health Lab |
12/29/2008 | 01/15/2009 | KS | BARTON | Greater White-fronted Goose, Canada Goose | Avian cholera | < 250 | USGS NWHC |
12/28/2008 | ongoing | NJ | MORRIS, WARREN | Little Brown Bat, Northern Long-eared Bat | Fungal Infection: White-Nose Syndrome suspect, Emaciation | ~ 10000 | USGS NWHC |
12/26/2008 | 02/15/2009 | MI | WASHTENAW | American Crow | Open | ~ 25 | MI State University |
12/26/2008 | 01/15/2009 | MT | TETON | Mallard | Aflatoxicosis suspect | < 100 | USGS NWHC |
12/25/2008 | ongoing | NC | DARE | Hooded Merganser, Bufflehead | Emaciation, Trauma | < 50 | USGS NWHC |
12/19/2008 | 02/14/2009 | CA | SUTTER | Gadwall, American Wigeon, American Coot, Ruddy Duck, Eared Grebe | Avian cholera | < 700 | USGS NWHC |
12/18/2008 | 01/15/2009 | CA | LOS ANGELES | California Brown Pelican | Emaciation, Frostbite, Anemia | ~ 400 | CA Animal Health/Food Safety Lab, USGS NWHC |
11/25/2008 | ongoing | PA | MIFFLIN, LACKAWANNA, LUZERNE | Eastern Pipistrelle, Little Brown Bat | Fungal Infection: White-Nose Syndrome, Emaciation, Fungal Infection: White-Nose Syndrome suspect | < 400 | USGS NWHC |
11/15/2008 | 01/05/2009 | NV | WASHOE | Northern Leopard Frog | Fungal Infection: chytrid, Toxicosis | < 10 | USGS NWHC |
10/24/2008 | ongoing | OR | MARION | Cackling Goose | Aspergillosis | < 25 | USGS NWHC, OR State Diagnostic Lab |
10/01/2008 | 02/01/2009 | MN | WRIGHT | Trumpeter Swan | Lead poisoning, Emaciation, Trauma: powerline suspect | < 50 | MN Dept of Natural Resources |
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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