Heather Wright/The Independent

The Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative says hundreds of birds have died along the shores of Lake Huron this spring, likely victims of Avian flu.

Petrolia resident Mary Brown was out walking her dog at Ipperwash Beach recently when she came upon some of the birds. Brian Stevens, a pathologist at the University of Guelph who is a member of the cooperative, says between March 23 and 30 more than 60 long-tailed ducks were found dead in Ipperwash and Pinery Park.

Residents and park officials contacted the cooperative and some of the birds are in his lab for testing.

It’s likely, Stevens says, the birds died of Avian flu.

The deaths in Lambton County are not surprising.

Avian flu was first detected in 2022. Stevens said the flu spreads rapidly among migrating birds. Since birds travel closely together during spring migration, there is often spread of Avian Flu.

In 2022 and 2023, the CWHC recorded large numbers of positive cases along the southern Ontario migration path. In 2024, there seemed to be fewer outbreaks and Stevens had hoped some form of immunity had been reached in the population.

But this year, the Avian flu is back with a vengeance.

Stevens says hundreds of birds have died this spring near around the Bruce Power plant near Kincardine. “Most of them tend to be diving ducks like mergansers, long-tailed ducks were the main ones,” he said. Fifteen of 16 tested had Avian Flu.

Just recently, around the time the Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced two Petrolia area farms were dealing with Avian flu, the long-tailed ducks and gulls were found in Ipperwash and Pinery. 

Stevens is testing those birds now but suspects another flu outbreak.

The virus found in commercial operation has been linked to migration. 

While there is really nothing we can do to stop the outbreaks in wildlife, Stevens says it is important for the public to know the highly-contagious virus is spreading in the wild. He says people out for a walk with their pets need to be aware of dead waterfowl and keep pets away. 

“If a dog or a cat that is out there were to go and scavenge on one of these birds, they could potentially pick up the virus,” says Stevens. It has already been found in other scavenging mammals.

Stevens says when you see a number of dead birds, you can call the CWHC hotline at 1-866-673-4781

“Red foxes and raccoons and skunks will also scavenge on these animals and potentially pick up the virus…So it is best to get them off the landscape if we can.”