Reports of Bird Flu in Washington, Oregon Include Coastlines: States Issue Advice

Published 12/04/25 at 5:55 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Salem, Oregon) – Avian influenza (HPAI) is definitely a bit of a worry in the Pacific Northwest, and that includes the coastlines of Oregon and Washington. (Photo Oregon Coast Beach Connection)

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) has received numerous reports of bird deaths linked to the illness, and their counterparts in Washington have also seen quite a few issues (press release from Washington). There's been an uptick recently, and experts are getting the word out on how to deal with finds of sick creatures.

Oregon officials are the latest to put out a press release, saying Oregonians should avoid contact with sick or dead birds as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) continues to spread among wild bird populations. It's even struck some domestic species. The virus, which has no effective treatment, can move quickly through flocks and potentially infect other wildlife.

It is fairly rare for humans to catch it from fowl - but it has happened.

ODFW said it has received numerous reports of bird deaths linked to HPAI, with most cases concentrated in the Willamette Valley among migrating cackling geese and raptors. Additional detections have been confirmed in eastern Oregon, where early-season duck and raptor mortalities and snow goose deaths have occurred. Sporadic cases have also been reported along Oregon's coast, affecting gulls and other waterbirds.

On the Washington coast, there has been a large number of of dead bird reports in some areas. One recent sighting indicated as much as 100 – although that total is not yet confirmed. However, Bridget Mire, with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), acknowledged there had been a run of dead birds in the Long Beach area.

Dead bird in Port Orford (file photo from CoastWatch)

Whether or not it was avian influenza is still to be determined.

“Given limited resources, WDFW reserves avian influenza testing for large-scale mortalities,” Mire told Oregon Coast Beach Connection. “We are awaiting full test results for the Long Beach birds.”

Online reporting tool for Washington State

ODFW said that since 2022, Oregon has faced widespread outbreaks of HPAI in poultry. The virus has been detected in nearly every county. In Oregon, it's been the cause of deaths for more than 15,000 wild birds.

Wildlife beyond birds have also been impacted. In Oregon, raccoons, skunks, foxes, marten, and bobcats have tested positive for HPAI. Nationwide, coyotes, wild cats, bears, and marine mammals have been affected, likely after feeding on infected birds. Domestic animals including poultry, waterfowl, cattle, pigs, goats, alpacas, and cats have also been confirmed with the virus.

Officials advise the public to report groups of sick or dead wild birds to the ODFW Wildlife Health Lab at 866-968-2600 or wildlife.health@odfw.oregon.gov. While single bird reports are useful for tracking, limited staff may prevent response to all cases. People are urged not to handle sick or dead wildlife. If disposal is necessary, use a shovel or impermeable gloves, wash hands thoroughly, and change clothing before contact with domestic poultry or pet birds.

“Keep dogs away from sick or dead birds,” ODFW said in a statement. “There are no known cases of domestic dogs becoming sickened by contact with sick birds. But hunters should not feed dogs any raw meat, organs, or other tissues from harvested waterfowl, and they should not allow retrieving dogs to interact with sick or dead birds.”

Symptoms in wild waterfowl include lethargy, loss of coordination, cloudy eyes, erratic behavior, swimming in circles, and head shaking. Some dabbling ducks may carry the virus without symptoms, spreading it through feces to other birds and wetlands. Infected mammals may appear neurologically impaired or be found dead after consuming infected birds.

Birds typically die within 72 hours of showing clinical signs. Wildlife rehabilitators in Oregon are currently advised not to accept waterfowl with suspected bird flu symptoms due to the risk of spreading the disease within facilities.

Illness or death among domestic birds such as chickens, turkeys, and Guinea fowl should be reported immediately to the Oregon Department of Agriculture at 503-986-4711 or 1-800-347-7028. More information on avian influenza and tips for protecting backyard flocks are available through ODA.

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