11 February 2025
It’s been six weeks since tons of of snow geese stricken with extremely pathogenic (HPAI, H5N1) avian influenza have been discovered lifeless and dying in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh and Northampton Counties on New Yr’s Day.
By 24 January hen flu had killed 5,000 snow geese in Northampton County in addition to raptors and scavengers together with bald eagles and vultures and a snowy owl at Presque Isle.
In the meantime the virus jumped from wild birds to an infinite business poultry farm: The first business poultry outbreak in PA since Feb 2024 was reported in Lehigh County on 27 January in a 50,000 business layer flock (egg farm). All business poultry services inside a 10km (6.2 mile) radius have been positioned underneath quarantine. (That is an instance of why eggs are scarce and costly.)
And so it comes as no shock that the #1 location for snow goose migration in Pennsylvania — Center Creek Wildlife Administration Space close to Kleinfeltersville — has been closed for the spring migration season.
The PA Sport Fee introduced ACCESS RESTRICTED AT MIDDLE CREEK on 3 February 2025.
HARRISBURG — As a consequence of extremely pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) that’s at present affecting many elements of the state, the Pennsylvania Sport Fee is proscribing public entry on the Center Creek Wildlife Administration Space, efficient Tuesday.
With the continued warming traits and the anticipated arrival of snow geese to Center Creek, this determination was made out of an abundance of warning for human and home animal well being.
Starting Tuesday 4 February 2025, the next areas shall be CLOSED to all public entry:
- Willow Level Parking Lot and Path
- Archery Vary
- Boat Launch
- White Oak Picnic Space
- All shoreline entry of the lake, INCLUDING fishing
The Wildlife Drive stays seasonally closed, and an prolonged closure is feasible.
Mountaineering trails (apart from Willow Level Path and Deer Path Path) and the Customer Middle will stay open throughout common enterprise hours, and all occasions will happen as scheduled.
All guests are reminded:
- In case you have pet birds, yard home poultry, or connections with business poultry services, you’re STRONGLY discouraged to go to throughout this time to reduce transmission threat.
- You might be HIGHLY ADVISED to stay in your autos whereas observing wildlife from roadways.
Please bear in mind the general public performs a vital function in wildlife well being surveillance. Report sick or lifeless wild birds to the Sport Fee by calling 1-833-PGC-WILD (1-833-742-9453).
Flocks at Center Creek can comprise 100,000 snow geese and 10,000 tundra swans on the peak of migration. That is what it regarded like 3 years in the past in 2022. It’s simple to see how these birds might unfold contagious ailments.
Whereas hen flu (HPAI) spreads throughout spring migration bear in mind to:
- At all times observe wildlife from a protected distance.
- Keep away from contacting surfaces that could be contaminated with feces from wild or home birds.
- Don’t deal with wildlife until you’re searching, trapping, or in any other case licensed to take action.
