HOWARD (WLUK) - Animal control officers suspect avian or bird flu has returned to Brown County. The Village of Howard saying it's recovered more than a dozen dead geese in the Duck Creek Quarry area.
Since Monday December 9th, Howard officials say they've retrieved 17 dead geese from the area.
Because of that, the quarry swim area and a pond across the street are checked twice daily.
When FOX 11 visited the area Tuesday afternoon, we observed at least half of dozen dead birds on the ice and another one that appeared sick.
"Those would be in addition. Unfortunately that side we can't safely get them off. That is actually a higher number now because we were out there this morning and we had only found one," said Matt Atkinson, Howard's animal control officer.
This latest round of dead geese comes a year after animal control officers investigated the death of dozens of bird in the same area. Those deaths they say were attributed to avian or bird flu.
According to Atkinson, "It's a naturally occurring disease just like the regular cold, flu season. They're all kind of comingling but because they're not really moving along because of the weather we're getting another spread again."
The DNR tells FOX 11 three Canada geese, that died after exhibiting symptoms consistent with the bird flu, are being tested for the virus. Those results won't be back until after the holidays.
But Matt Atkinson says he's 99% sure the virus is what's killing the geese, "From what we've found they're showing the similar signs. The loss of head and neck control. The ones we've picked up that have passed away did have the single cataract. I would say very close that it is, bird flu preliminarily. We're not going to know for sure until the lab results come back."
Like the common cold and flu, the avian flu is easily transmissible, through the air.
This particular flock, the Atkinson believes is migrating, has stuck together at the quarry for about 10 days - spreading the virus.
While animal control officials don't believe humans are at risk, they still want people to report any dead or sick geese to them - and not try to retrieve the bird on their own.
Atkinson added, "There's definitely evidence out there, at least mammals it can spread to, so really I would say if anyone sees one don't approach it give us a call."