Avian flu surges again, Utah confirms new wave of wild bird deaths near Great Salt Lake

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — A highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in wild birds around the Great Salt Lake and in several other counties throughout Utah, according to the Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR).

The first case of the virus was detected in April 2022 when dead great horned owl tested positive for the flu. DWR says multiple waves of the outbreak have affected Utah’s wild bird populations since then.

“We saw a lull in new avian flu cases in wild birds from March 2025 to September 2025, but in the last few months, we have seen another uptick in new cases across Utah,” DWR Veterinarian Ginger Stout said.

According to officials, 49 wild bird carcasses have been collected since Oct. 2025 from across Utah and were submitted for disease testing. All tested positive for avian influenza. Biologists estimate that roughly 50,000 eared grebes and 250 California gulls have died along the south arm of the Great Salt Lake during this latest influx of avian influenza.

The birds most impacted by the latest influx of avian flu cases are:

• Eared grebes in Box Elder, Davis, Salt Lake, Tooele and Weber counties

• California gulls in Salt Lake County

• Canada geese in Box Elder, Cache, Davis, Iron, Sevier, Salt Lake, Summit, Utah, Washington and Weber counties

• Ducks in Box Elder and Davis counties

• Great horned owls in Box Elder, Davis, Summit and Weber counties

• Hawks in Box Elder, Davis and Weber Counties

• Swans in Cache and Salt Lake counties

• Turkey vultures in Box Elder and Weber counties

“Roughly 4 million eared grebes migrate through the Great Salt Lake each year, so the birds lost to avian influenza in this recent wave should not have a significant impact on the overall population,” DWR Great Salt Lake Ecosystem Program Wildlife Biologist John Neill said.

Eared grebes typically use the Great Salt Lake as a rest area during their winter migrations to eat brine shrimp, fatten up and molt before they continue their southern migration, Neill explained. But because of the warm winter, eared grebes are still on the lake.

“The warmer lake temperatures are helping brine shrimp persist longer into the winter, and because they’re the primary food source for eared grebes, that’s likely why the birds are still here. Dead birds may continue to wash ashore in the coming months,” Neill said.

Since 2022, 242 wild birds, one mountain lion, some skunks and three red foxes have tested positive for avian flu in Utah. The virus has been confirmed in 19 counties in Utah since 2022.

What are highly pathogenic avian influenzas

Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses are very contagious among wild birds and can cause rapid and high mortality in domestic birds, such as chickens, turkeys and domestic ducks. But DWR biologists claim that this strain is more pathogenic and has been killing more wild birds.

The virus is spread among birds through nasal and oral discharge, as well as fecal droppings. It can be spread to backyard poultry and domestic birds through contaminated shoes or vehicles.

The previous outbreak of avian flu in the U.S. occurred in 2014–15, when highly pathogenic strains of avian influenza were detected in wild birds of the Pacific, Central and Mississippi flyways. During that outbreak, officials say the virus was only detected in two healthy ducks in Utah.

What must you know?

If you have a bird feeder, DWR officials say that you shouldn’t have to remove it unless you also have backyard chickens, domestic ducks or wild waterfowl on their property. However, if you have a bird feeder or birdbath, you should clean it regularly.

Officials are also asking the public to not touch or pick dead birds up. “The outbreak is still ongoing, so we are still advising anyone who finds a group of five or more dead waterfowl or shorebirds — or any individual dead scavengers or raptors, to report it” Stout said. You are asked to report it to nearest DWR office.

Biologists say they will continue to monitor this virus in wild bird populations. “This particular strain is affecting more wild birds and is more widespread than the last outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the U.S.,” Stout concluded.

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