West Nile Surveillance in Minnesota

Report a Dead Bird

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends dead bird surveillance as a component of a West Nile virus surveillance program. From May through September, the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (MMCD) in collaboration with Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) conducts surveillance for WNV in crows, blue jays, hawks, and owls.

MMCD collects all reports of dead birds. However, only birds found in the counties that comprise the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, Washington) will be tested for West Nile Virus:

Not all birds will be selected for sampling.  Only birds that have died within 48 hours of discovery will be considered.  Birds that have been collected in plastic bags and frozen are better candidates for testing.  Wear impervious gloves when handling sick or dead birds. If you have no gloves, insert your hand into a clean plastic bag, pick up the bird with the bagged hand, invert the bag over the bird and seal the bag.  Store the bird in a freezer until you are contacted by MMCD.

Use the form below or call the MMCD at: 651-645-9149 to report a dead bird. MMCD will collect samples from suitable specimens. Birds found dead must be in good postmortem condition. Indicators of suitable postmortem condition include no scavenging to the carcass, an intact body cavity, no maggot infestation or strong odor to the carcass. Birds that fit this description should be bagged and frozen as described above.

Reports of all dead birds will be accepted, but Crows, Blue Jays, and Raptors will receive priority status for collection and testing.

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