Hello Maryland hunters,
This weekend will mark the close of some of our waterfowl hunting seasons - we hope you have been able to enjoy some success afield this year! Some opportunities remain for hunting resident Canada geese and light geese - please check our online hunting regulations for those and other opportunities.
And as a reminder, Maryland’s youth hunters, veterans, and military personnel can experience the excitement of a special waterfowl hunting day on Saturday, Feb. 8.
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Avian Influenza in Maryland
Waterfowl hunters should be advised that Highly Pathogenic H5 Avian Influenza (HPAI), often called “bird flu,” has been detected in wild birds and poultry farms in Maryland.It is likely that the HPAI virus is distributed throughout Maryland's wild birds but it is known to be particularly common in waterfowl and raptors.
Risk to human health is low and hunting wild birds remains safe, but some guidelines should be followed:
- Never harvest or handle wild birds that are obviously sick or found dead,
- Wash your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer immediately after handling game;
- Use disposable gloves when handling game and double-bag offal and feathers and dispose of these carcasses in the household trash stream;
- Use dedicated clothing, boots and, tools for cleaning game that are not used around poultry or pet birds;
- Cook harvested waterfowl it to 165 degrees to kill any viruses or bacteria.
Anyone who owns poultry or has access to a backyard flock should be sure to register with the Maryland Department of Agriculture and follow important biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of HPAI.
Anyone who sees sick or dead birds in the wild should not handle or move the birds, but should report them by calling 1-877-463-6497.
More information and the latest updates are on the Maryland Department of Natural Resources website.
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