Bald eagles in 14 states have died amid bird flu outbreak

Jordan Mendoza
Updated ·2 min read
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In this Jan. 28, 2016, photo, a bald eagle soars over the Haw River below Jordan Lake in Moncure, North Carolina Three bald eagles in the state have died due to the bird flu.

Among the latest victims of the bird flu outbreak sweeping across the country: the national bird of the United States.

Bald eagles in 14 states died after contracting bird flu, and eagles in another two states are suspected of falling ill with the highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In total, 36 bald eagles have died since February.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources reported Thursday that three bald eagles in the state that died recently tested positive for the bird flu virus. Other dead bald eagles also will be tested.

Officials said recent aerial surveys of eagle nests on the state's coast revealed several failed nests, including eaglets dead or missing when they normally wouldn't have left the nest yet. Bob Sargent, program manager with the department's wildlife conservation section, said nest success is down about 30% this year.

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On April 8, a bald eagle in Bay View, Wisconsin, was found unable to fly. Wildlife rehabilitators with the Wisconsin Humane Society collected and cared for the bird in Milwaukee. It was euthanized the next day after its condition deteriorated.

Initial test results on the eagle released Friday showed it was "presumed positive" for the virus.

Here are where bald eagles testing positive for the bird flu virus have died, and how many died in each state, according to USDA data as of Thursday:

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  • Florida: 9

  • Georgia: 3

  • Kansas: 2

  • Maine: 2

  • Minnesota: 2

  • Nebraska: 1

  • North Carolina: 3

  • North Dakota: 2

  • Ohio: 2

  • Pennsylvania: 1

  • South Carolina: 3

  • South Dakota: 3

  • Vermont: 3

  • Wisconsin: 1

Tens of millions of domestic and wild birds have died or were euthanized as a result of the disease, which is especially deadly to domestic poultry. It has been detected in 32 states as of Saturday, most recently Utah and Idaho.

The bird flu is considered a low risk to humans, but Americans are feeling the effects. The outbreak is expected to raise the cost of poultry products and eggs this year. Shoppers can expect to pay 6% to 7% more for poultry products and 2.5% to 3.5% for eggs at the grocery store.

Contributing: Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jordan_mendoza5.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bald eagles dead from bird flu outbreak: USDA data on mortality