Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has announced that tests on four dead birds removed from John Martin Reservoir State Park in November have returned positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

This announcement comes after CPW said to expect cases of HPAI to spike this winter and reminded the public to avoid contact with sick animals (especially during the winter spike in HPAI cases).

According to a press release about HPAI from CPW, the annual migration of several bird populations contributes to the spike in the disease. A strain of HPAI, H5N1, was identified in North America in 2021 to 2022 and confirmed in Colorado in March of 2022. H5N1 causes high mortality rates in wild and domestic birds and does not have a cure or treatment.

The press release says that symptoms of HPAI include moving slowly, swimming in circles, unable to fly, a lack of coordination, swollen head, head tilting or found deceased. CPW encourages the public to contact the agency if three or more birds exhibit HPAI symptoms or are found dead in the same area.

Wild mammals have also tested positive for HPAI in Colorado and will show similar signs of the disease like walking in circles, lack of coordination or appearing lethargic.

According to a Facebook post from John Martin Reservoir State Park, the park had been getting calls about geese acting lethargic or confused around the reservoir.

The post said that during migration seasons birds like waterfowl can be carriers of diseases like HPAI and that it can spread easily, especially if they are migrating in large flocks.

Although it is rare for the disease to transmit to humans, CPW still recommends that humans keep their distance, and keep their pets away from wildlife. CPW also says that the public should never handle sick or dead wild birds and that waterfowl hunters should use proper protection while handling and processing wild game.

Find more information about HPAI here.

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