Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) continues to infect birds and mammals across the U.S. and Canada, including New York state. In November and December 2025, DEC received 69 reports of suspect mortalities, and presumptive positive cases were detected in wild birds in 10 counties. HPAI incidence may remain high through spring when large numbers of ducks and geese will migrate through the state. There is no treatment for HPAI, and transporting suspected HPAI-infected birds to wildlife rehabilitation facilities is discouraged to prevent the spread of the disease to other animals in their care.
HPAI is carried by free-flying waterfowl and other waterbirds, such as ducks, geese, and shorebirds, but can also infect domestic poultry, raptors, corvids, and mammals. DEC’s Wildlife Health Program is monitoring the spread and impact of HPAI throughout the state and has an online reporting tool the public can use to report suspected HPAI mortalities: NYSDEC Avian Influenza Reporting Form. Updates on HPAI can be found on the Cornell Wildlife Health Lab website.
DEC staff response to a suspected HPAI mortality event depends on the specific event. With the exception of larger events, sensitive locations, or vulnerable species, a physical response by staff is not necessary or likely in most cases. If a landowner decides to remove carcasses:
• use disposable gloves, a mask, and eye protection;
• use a shovel to avoid direct contact with the carcass or carcass fluids;
• triple bag carcasses with garbage or contractor bags and put in an outdoor trash receptacle for trash pickup or deposit at a local landfill; and
• wash hands and clothing with soap and hot water immediately afterward.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that the recent HPAI detections in birds pose a low risk to the public. HPAI H5N1 has been detected in more than 70 humans in the U.S., including two mortalities; most of these cases involved close contact with infected domestic birds or cows. No human-to-human transmission of the virus has been documented.
