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West Nile Virus Surveillance in Wisconsin


Crows, Ravens, and Jays

Raven length=24in. American Crow (not pictured, length=17.5in.) Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/photo by Gary M. Stolz

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends avian morbidity/mortality surveillance (dead bird surveillance) as a component of an arbovirus surveillance program. From May through October, the Wisconsin Division of Public Health (DPH) in collaboration with USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services (WS) conducts surveillance for WNV on crows, ravens, and blue jays (corvid birds). The following guidelines have been established for reporting and testing Wisconsin corvids: Blue Jay (length=11in.) Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/photo by Dave Menke

  • The DPH and WS collects information on sick/dead crows, blue jays, and ravens. Always wear rubber 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.
  • Call the Wisconsin Dead Bird Hotline at: 1-800- 433-1610 to report a dead bird. WS 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 with signs of trauma are acceptable.
  • Priority testing based on geographic location or time of year may be required as the mosquito season progresses. Once two WNV positive birds are detected in a county, birds from that county may no longer be accepted for testing. However, reporting sick/dead crows, blue jays, or ravens should continue through the summer.

    Other Birds and Mammals

    In past years of WNV surveillance, DNR Wildlife Health has targeted certain non-corvid bird and mammal species for testing in an effort to determine if and how wildlife populations were being affected by this disease. However, in 2007, WI DNR is not requesting birds and mammals of specific species for WNV testing. Instead, DNR surveillance efforts are focused on any non-corvid bird or mammal that is showing clinical signs compatible with WNV (lethargy, lack of balance, inability to maintain normal body posture), or that is involved in a significant mortality event (die-off of >5 individuals clustered spatially and/or temporally).

    Non-corvid testing for WNV begins in May. Call the statewide Dead Bird Hotline (1-800-433-1610) during weekdays to report sick/dead animals. Animals found dead must be in good postmortem condition for WNV testing. Do not submit carcasses that are maggot infested or have a strong odor. Carcass should have intact eyes and no openings into the body cavity. Contact the Dead Bird Hotline (1-800-433-1610) for more information on WNV non-corvid testing.

    Additional information:

    Related Sites

    To report a dead bird please contact the Wisconsin Dead Bird Hotline at 1-800-433-1610.

    Questions for Wildlife Management

    Last Revised: Thursday September 06 2007
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