Game Commission reports surge in HPAI detections; large quarry response disposed of thousands of birds

The Pennsylvania Game Commission briefed commissioners on a recent resurgence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in wild birds and described a coordinated response that included euthanasia of sick birds and large‑scale carcass disposal at a Northampton County quarry.

Dr. Andrew DeSalvo, the agency’s wildlife veterinarian, said the agency has conducted HPAI surveillance since early 2022 and that recent mortality events in Lehigh and Northampton counties produced in‑state detections. “We encourage the public to report all incidents of sick and dead wildlife by calling us at 1‑833‑PGC‑WILD,” he said, adding the agency’s call center is staffed 24/7.

DeSalvo said a coordinated USDA and agency investigation on Dec. 30 found roughly 200 sick or dead snow geese at two quarries and that subsequent operations at a larger Northampton County quarry led to the recovery and off‑site disposal estimate of about 5,000 carcasses, the majority snow geese. He said the number euthanized in the operation was under 600 and that many carcasses were already dead when recovered. “That was a very challenging landscape to work in and to get it all approved and happening at the same time,” he said.

The veterinarian emphasized limits to wildlife control options and the need for prioritized responses. Staff are focusing field investigations on high‑profile locations where human, domestic animal or wildlife exposure risks are greatest—examples cited included schools and heavily used public recreation areas. DeSalvo noted that detection maps reflect testing effort, not total mortality, and urged caution when interpreting the geographic distribution of reported cases.

The agency is working with multiple partners on the response and public‑health protections: USDA APHIS Wildlife Services, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Wildlife Futures program, among others. DeSalvo said laboratory capacity is a constraint; the state has tested wildlife specimens while diagnostic labs are also handling domestic poultry and dairy testing.

On public guidance, DeSalvo said the agency does not encourage touching sick or dead wildlife and that large‑scale carcass recovery is “often impractical, logistically challenging [and] risky to human health.” Where staff do test carcasses they recover, the agency disposes of tested carcasses properly; otherwise the agency selectively recovers and disposes only when appropriate and feasible.

Commissioners and audience members asked about spillover to mammals and raptors. DeSalvo said scavengers and raptors—including red‑tailed and red‑shouldered hawks and some bald eagles—have been detected and that scavenging of infected carcasses is likely the main route for mammal infections. He said the outbreak has produced occasional detections in wild foxes and that purple neurologic signs in affected mammals and raptors commonly lead wardens to euthanize severely ill animals on site.

Ending: DeSalvo said the outbreak is complex, persistent and regionally widespread; he urged continued public reporting and interagency coordination as the Commission continues targeted surveillance and response.