Dead geese test positive for bird flu in Sacramento, California wildlife officials say

Three dead geese recently found in a Land Park pond tested positive for avian influenza, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

An area resident saw four dead birds at William Land Regional Park, near the Sacramento Zoo, and took them to the Wildlife Health Lab in Rancho Cordova, said Peter Tira, a CDFW spokesman. A test last week on three of the birds — one goose was far too decomposed to be tested — returned positive for bird flu, he said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed the results.

“It’s not really surprise to us in that (bird flu) has been identified in many California counties and before here in Sacramento County,” Tira said. He added that residents should refrain from picking up dead birds and instead report the deceased animals to CDFW online.

A highly pathogenic strain H5N1 avian influenza was first detected in the U.S. last January. The disease made it’s way to California by July 2022 and was detected in 40 counties, Tira said.

State wildlife officials are monitoring the disease throughout the state and noted the last positive test was detected in one bird in mid-June. Bird flu cases decline throughout the spring and summer, but typically tick back up in the fall, officials said.

“We had no detections through summer despite ongoing surveillance during this period. We currently have preliminary detections in several birds sampled this past week from a few different counties; confirmatory testing is pending,” said CDFW avian specialist Krysta Rogers in an email.

With the return of fall, the virus activity appears to have increased, Rogers said. That’s because wild birds congregate as they migrate south for the colder months in bodies of water, Tira said. Wildlife in close quarters causes the disease to spread by water.

The Sacramento Valley is the epicenter of wildlife migration because there’s water and food in this area, Tira said. Many geese, mallards and other migratory waterfowl flock to the rich rice fields as they travel along the Pacific Flyway.

“It’s just a spectacle of life that’s really unique to our area,” Tira said.

Residents should stop feeding ducks and geese because that causes birds to congregate and could lead to disease spreading, he said.

The city of Sacramento, which oversees the park, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.