SACRAMENTO – Three of the four dead geese found by Land Park residents tested positive for avian influenza, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) confirmed.
Neighbors picked up the animals and took them to the agency’s Rancho Cordova-area laboratory to be tested for the disease.
Three animals tested, two Canada geese and one domestic goose, tested positive for avian influenza.
The CDFW statement added that the Eurasian highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 strain has been circulating among wild birds since it was first identified in the United States in 2022, particularly among aquatic species.
The federal agency joins other organizations in continuously testing for avian influenza, which was first detected in California in July 2022, and testing continues throughout the fall and winter.
Positive cases appear to decrease during the spring and summer, although this may be due to the migration of waterfowl.
The CDFW report concluded that case detection of the disease has been increasing as birds return from many areas of the state for the winter.
Chilean authorities are warning the public to avoid contact with any animal found dead or exhibiting strange behavior.