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Commissioner reports bird flu at Merrill Creek; county working with partners to reduce eagle exposure
Summary
Commissioner James Kern reported increased bird deaths at Merrill Creek, intermittent closures and steps to reduce raptor exposure by supplying noninfected carcasses through partners such as Space Farms.
Commissioner James R. Kern III told the board Feb. 11 that Merrill Creek has experienced a spike in bird deaths linked by county discussion to avian influenza and that county officials have intermittently closed the site.
Why it matters: county officials said the die-off posed a risk to scavenging raptors, including bald eagles, and they described steps intended to reduce the chance eagles ingest infected birds.
Kern said, “There has been a significant amount of birds dying at Merrill Creek and they have been closed intermittently because of that.” He said the county has been working with Merrill Creek staff and with Space Farms; Space Farms will deliver deer carcasses to the reservoir so scavengers can feed on noninfected carcasses rather than sick birds. Kern warned that raptors eating infected birds could die and said the county is trying to mitigate that risk. The board did not take formal action; the report was provided as an informational update.
The meeting record does not include laboratory confirmation results, the specific strain involved, or public-health orders. County residents seeking information about closures or public health guidance were not given a dedicated contact in the minutes; the transcript shows discussion focused on mitigation steps to protect local raptors and wildlife.
