Hunters and people who work with wildlife, such as wildlife responders or park staff, may come into contact with wild birds or other wild animals that carry bird flu. Avoid handling sick or dead animals whenever possible. Report sick, injured or dead animals to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
If you must handle sick or dead wild birds or other wild animals, wear personal protective equipment (PPE), especially gloves, eye protection and a respirator or well-fitting face mask. The best type of mask to wear is a NIOSH-approved respirator, rated N95 or greater. See the handout, Keep yourself and your family safe with PPE (PDF). When hunting, field dressing, or storing game, take precautions to reduce the risk of exposure to bird flu and other diseases. For additional guidance for hunters and wildlife workers, see Avian Influenza, WDFW.
Hunters and wildlife workers can track bird flu detections in wild birds and other animals nationally at USDA's Detection of Avian Influenza.
Handouts
- Fact Sheet for Hunters
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Hunters and Hunting, Avian Influenza and Your Health (PDF)
- Amharic: የወፎች ኢንፍሉዌንዛ እና የእርስዎ ጤና አዳኞች እና ስለ አደን በተደጋጋሚ የሚጠየቁ ጥያቄዎች (PDF)
- Arabic: إنفلونزا الطيور وصحتك الأسئلة الشائعة بشأن الصيادين والصيد (PDF)
- Chinese Simplified: 禽流感与您的健康 猎人及狩猎常见问题与解答 (PDF)
- Chinese Traditional: 禽流感與您的健康 獵人及狩獵常見問題與解答 (PDF)
- Korean: 조류인플루엔자와건강 사냥꾼및사냥관련자주묻는질문 (PDF)
- Punjabi: ਬਰਡ ਫਲੂ ਅਤੇ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਿਸਹਤ ਿਸ਼ਕਾਰੀਆ ਂ ਅਤ ੇ ਿਸ਼ਕਾਰ ਬਾਰ ੇ ਅਕਸਰ ਪਛੁੱ ੇ ਜਾਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਸਵਾਲ (PDF)
- Russian: Птичий грипп и ваше здоровье Часто задаваемые вопросы об охоте (PDF)
- Somali: Hargabka Shimbiraha iyo Caafimaadkaaga Su’aalaha Badanaa La Is Weydiiyo ee Ku aadan Ugaarsatada iyo Ugaarsiga (PDF)
- Spanish: La influenza aviar y su salud Preguntas frecuentes para cazadores y sobre la caza (PDF)
- Tagalog: Avian Influenza at Inyong Kalusugan Mga FAQ para sa mga Mangangaso at Pangangaso (PDF)
- Ukrainian: Пташиний грип і ваше здоров’я Відповіді на поширені запитання про полювання для людей, які займаються полюванням (PDF)
- Vietnamese: Cúm Gia Cầm và Sức Khỏe của Quý Vị Câu hỏi thường gặp dành cho thợ săn và hoạt động săn bắn (PDF)
- Guide for Hunters
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Guide for Hunters: Disease Prevention Best Practices (PDF)
- Amharic: የአዳኞች መመሪያ (PDF)
- Arabic: دليل إرشادي لممارسي الصَّيْد (PDF)
- Chinese Simplified: 猎人指南 (PDF)
- Chinese Traditional: 獵人指南 (PDF)
- Korean: 사냥꾼을 위한 안내서 (PDF)
- Punjabi: ਸ਼ਿ ਕਾਰੀਆਂ ਲਈ ਮਾਰਗਦਰਸ਼ਕ (PDF)
- Russian: ПАМЯТКА ДЛЯ ЛЮДЕЙ, ЗАНИМАЮЩИХСЯ ОХОТОЙ (PDF)
- Somali: Hagaha loogu talagalay Ugaarsatada (PDF)
- Spanish: Guía para cazadores: Mejores prácticas para la prevención de enfermedades (PDF)
- Tagalog: Gabay para sa mga mangangaso (PDF)
- Ukrainian: пам’ятка для людей, які займаються полюванням (PDF)
- Vietnamese: Hướng dẫn dành cho thợ săn (PDF)
USDA Wildlife Sampling and Testing
The USDA runs the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), which helps monitor and control diseases, including bird flu, in animals.
USDA biologists collect samples from harvested birds in places where hunters gather, such as state lands and national wildlife refuges. They may ask hunters if they can swab their birds to test for bird flu. Positive test results are posted on the USDA's Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wild Birds usually 10 days or more after the samples are collected. All positive tests are confirmed by the National Veterinary Sciences Laboratories.
USDA-APHIS also tracks bird flu in wild mammals based on samples submitted by federal and state agencies, including the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Positive test results are posted on USDA’s Detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Mammals after they are confirmed by the National Veterinary Sciences Laboratories.