Avian influenza 2025: What should I do if I find a dead bird?
In Germany, reports of increasing numbers of bird flu cases are piling up. Anyone who finds a dead bird – in a park, garden, or on a walking path – should not rush into anything, but also not take it lightly.
According to current assessments by European and US disease control authorities, the risk to humans remains low, but caution and hygiene are crucial to stop the spread.
Approximately 75 percent of all newly emerging infectious diseases in humans are zoonoses – diseases that are transmitted between animals and humans. The majority of these pathogens originate in wild animals, but domestic animals can also act as intermediate hosts.
Since 1980, more than three new types of viruses that could infect humans have been discovered every year. According to Humane World for Animals, intensive livestock farming with high animal densities particularly promotes the development and spread of such viruses. Europe is a global hotspot for intensive animal production, which increases the risk of large-scale outbreaks.
The H5N1 avian influenza virus circulates naturally in wild waterfowl. It becomes dangerous when the virus enters poultry flocks, where intensive farming and high numbers of animals allow it to multiply and mutate.
Commercial poultry farming systems are particularly affected. The H5N1 strain is fatal in over 50 percent of known human cases. Should it mutate in such a way that it becomes efficiently transmissible between humans, a severe pandemic could result.
" The world is unprepared for an outbreak of the scale and mortality rate that avian influenza could cause. According to a recent report by the French animal disease control agency ESA, there were 56 outbreaks of the viral disease between August and mid-October alone in ten EU countries and the United Kingdom, primarily in Poland, Spain, and Germany."
This is a real, serious threat that we cannot ignore. We have all experienced how devastating a pandemic can be. Europe plays a central role in this risk due to its dense networks of industrial pig and poultry farms, as these farms offer ideal conditions for these viruses to develop, multiply, and spread between species. Even with strict biosecurity measures, every input and output – from feed and water to transport and air – can carry an infection, ” emphasizes Sylvie Kremerskothen Gleason, Country Director of Humane World for Animals Germany.
Bird flu particularly affects waterfowl , as the virus can spread rapidly in large gatherings. These include:
- Ducks (mallards, tufted ducks)
- Geese (greylag geese, Canada geese)
- Swans
- Seagulls and other coastal birds
- cranes
- heron
As difficult as it may be: Dead birds – especially waterfowl and birds of prey – should never be touched , not even with gloves. Besides avian influenza, salmonella or other bacteria can also be present on carcasses. Dogs or cats that come into contact with them can spread the pathogens.
If you suspect an animal has been found, contact a veterinarian to minimize risks. Any find should be reported to the responsible veterinary office. The authority will decide how to proceed with the animal. If you need to remove the animal (if no authority is available), pick it up with a plastic bag – avoiding direct skin contact – and wash your hands thoroughly immediately.
Touching or disposing of a dead bird can pose health risks :
- Transmission of viruses: Avian influenza (H5N1) is primarily transmitted through bodily fluids, excretions, or contaminated feathers. Even gloves do not always provide complete protection if the bird is heavily contaminated.
- Other pathogens: In addition to bird flu, salmonella or other bacteria may occur.
- Danger to pets: Dogs or cats that come into contact with the carcass can also become infected or transmit pathogens.
Every dead bird should be reported to the responsible veterinary authority . The authority will decide whether to collect the animal and test it for avian influenza. Multiple bird deaths in a region are also important for monitoring purposes.
Simply report throughout Germany:
Dogs tend to sniff curiously or even pick up dead animals. This can be dangerous – for both the animal and the human. Anyone who suspects their dog has been in contact with a dead animal should observe it and contact a veterinarian if unsure.
Many birds die from being struck by windows or attacked by cats. Nevertheless, any bird found—especially wild birds—should be reported. Anyone who needs to remove the bird should pick it up in a plastic bag , avoiding direct skin contact , and then wash their hands thoroughly.
Do I have to report every find?
Yes, especially with waterfowl and birds of prey or multiple finds in a short period of time.
Can I dispose of dead birds myself?
No, the veterinary office takes care of that.
Is bird flu dangerous for humans?
The risk is low, but caution remains important.
What to do if the dog has had contact?
Keep animals away, wash hands, contact veterinarian if unsure.
Can I continue feeding birds?
Yes – but only hygienically, with silo dispensers, do not feed waterfowl.
Feeding stations should be cleaned regularly to prevent pathogens from spreading through droppings or moisture. Silo feeders are better than open bowls. Waterfowl, in particular, should not be fed at all at this time – this is where the virus spreads most quickly.
Dead birds can also be easily reported via platforms like ornitho.de . These reports help researchers and authorities identify patterns of avian influenza spread—an important contribution to protecting humans and animals.
Keep your distance, wash your hands, inform the veterinary office – three simple steps that help contain avian influenza. Every contribution helps with better monitoring of the disease situation – especially now, as over 30 poultry farms in Germany have already had to cull animals and the economic risk is growing.
Humane World for Animals recommends reducing the global dependence on animal protein, promoting plant-based alternatives, and scaling back intensive farming systems.
Bans on the sale of poultry at live markets and the protection of natural ecosystems are also important measures to prevent new pandemics. Leading scientists and organizations consider this crucial for containing the emergence and spread of dangerous zoonoses in the long term.
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