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Board of Health discusses avian flu outreach near river parks; no formal signage planned
Summary
Board members discussed H5N1 detections in wildlife and possible public education steps for riverfront parks frequented by geese. Staff said signage is not recommended until dead‑bird thresholds are met; the department will use social media and neighborhood liaisons for outreach if needed.
Board members raised public‑information needs Feb. 5 after recent reports of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in regional wildlife and asked whether the health department would place signs near riverfront parks where goose droppings concentrate.
A board member noted local areas with large Canadian goose populations — Edwards Field, Hadley Park and the river walkway — and asked whether signage or other measures were warranted. The Health Director said no signage had been recommended because no clusters of dead birds had been detected locally; current guidance triggers investigation when five or more dead birds are found in one area. "So there hasn't been any recommendations for signs or anything like that yet because there hasn't been any, dead birds found in the area," the Health Director said.
Staff described current outreach plans focused on education rather than permanent signs while the ground is frozen. The department will share state and federal guidance via social media and coordinate with the neighborhood liaison in the city manager's office to bring information to neighborhood meetings. The board and staff noted existing resources from the state Department of Public Health and the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and said the primary advice for the public is to avoid handling dead birds and to report clusters per state instructions.
No formal board action or vote was taken. The department will monitor reports of dead birds and escalate to posted signage or broader outreach if five or more dead birds are found in a concentrated area.
