(Radio Iowa) – Iowa D-N-R state wildlife veterinarian Rachel Ruden says they’re monitoring the situation after reports of sick and dead wild birds with the classical signs of avian influenza.

Ruden says they can’t explain why these specific areas are seeing the uptick.

Ruden says there could have been some local factor, like a storm, that forced the infected birds to land in those areas. She says the birds have been mostly Canadian geese and dabbling or surface ducks like teal, mallards and wood ducks that float on the water.

Ruden says first outbreak of avian influenza actually came during the spring migration in 2022, and they are still trying to get a handle on the fall outbreaks.

The disease doesn’t flourish in the warmer weather in the summer. Ruden says the things they are now seeing are warning signals for domestic poultry producers to be ready.

Ruden says they want anyone who see dead birds or bird acting strangely to report it to your local conservation office.