A wild bird in Yolo County has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). HPAI is a viral disease that occurs naturally among wild aquatic birds, such as ducks, geese, swans, gulls, and terns, and shorebirds, such as storks, plovers, and sandpipers. HPAI can infect domestic poultry, other birds, animal species, and humans.

As of August 22, 2022, HPAI has been detected in commercial and domestic bird flocks in Sacramento, Butte, Contra Costa, and Fresno counties. Additionally, HPAI has been detected in wild birds in the following twelve counties: Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Mendocino, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Santa Clara, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, and Stanislaus, in addition to Yolo County.

Keepers of commercial and domestic flocks are advised to adhere to the following biosecurity recommendations to help protect their flocks from HPAI:

- Prevent contact between domestic and wild birds by bringing your birds into an enclosure that is covered.
- If you have bodies of water on your property, such as ponds or ditches, consider draining them to avoid attracting wild birds and keep your domestic birds away from this potentially contaminated water.
- Use sanitized well or city water for your birds.  
- Wash your hands before and after handling your birds, including when handling birds from coop to coop.
- Prevent rodents and predators from entering your coop.  
- Prevent pets such as cats and dogs from eating dead wild birds.  
- Keep feed covered and spills cleaned up to avoid attracting wild birds and rodents.  
- Wash and disinfect boots and equipment when moving between coops.  
- Do not share equipment or supplies with neighbors.  
- Clean and disinfect equipment and other supplies between uses.  
- Clean and disinfect your shoes and vehicle tires after visiting feedstores and other places frequented by other poultry owners or wild bird hunters.  
- Avoid visiting places where wild birds congregate, such as lakes and ponds.   
- HPAI can also infect humans. The risk to the general public in Yolo County is very low at this time, but residents are reminded to avoid direct contact with wild birds, particularly birds that appear ill or are dead.

Report any unusual or suspicious numbers of sick or dead domestic birds immediately to the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Sick Bird Hotline at (866) 922-2473; report any unusual or suspicious dead wild birds to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife online at www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Laboratories/Wildlife-Health/Monitoring/Mortality-Report.

Poultry keepers should monitor their birds for the following symptoms:  

- Trouble breathing  
- Clear, runny discharge from nose, mouth, and eyes  
- Lethargy or lack of energy  
- Loss of appetite  
- Drinking less  
- Swollen eyes, head, wattles, or combs  
- Discolored or bruised comb, wattles, or legs  
- Stumbling, falling, or twisted neck  
- Sudden death 

If you have questions about wildlife rehabilitation, please contact the California Department of Fish and Wildlife directly. Contact information is available here: Wildlife Health Lab - Avian Investigations (ca.gov). For general public inquiries regarding HPAI in California, please call 916-217-7517. For media inquiries, please call 916-654-0462 or send an email to: [email protected].

Stay Informed  

For the latest updates on California domestic poultry, follow on CDFA’s Animal Health Branch on Facebook or Instagram. 

For more information and updates on wild bird detections in California, visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website.

More information on avian influenza and how to protect flocks through biosecurity measures can be found on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website.