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How to
Collect Dead Birds
for Disease Testing
Thank you for helping us to monitor Los
Angeles County for West Nile Virus and Avian Influenza.
Your help is needed and appreciated. Never touch a dead bird with your
bare hands. Wash your hands well after handling any dead bird. We will
contact you with the results of tests performed on the dead bird that
you report.
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Report
all dead birds in Los Angeles County.
Please call us or report online. Report all types of dead birds.
Not all dead birds can be tested for disease, but all reports are
helpful. Please report the location, date, number of dead birds, and
type of birds.
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 Only
freshly dead, adult birds can be tested.
Tests for diseases will be performed on adult birds that have been
dead a short time (24 hours or less), and that are not rotten or
covered with ants. Baby birds will not be tested. Single pigeons
or doves usually are not tested. In general, West Nile Virus tests
are run on all birds that are collected. Avian Influenza testing
may only be done where there is a cluster of dead birds (three or
more). Die-offs of waterfowl and shorebirds are of the highest
priority for testing.
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How to
prepare bird for testing. Only birds that have been placed in a
plastic bag and put in a safe place can be collected for testing.
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Put in bag.
Do not touch the dead bird with your bare hands. Use disposable
gloves or place a plastic bag (without holes) over your hand.
Turn the bag inside out over the bird and then tie the bag
closed. Double bag it this way.
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Keep cool.
If possible, keep the dead bird cool by placing a separate,
sealed bag of ice on top of the bird. Do not let ice melt
directly onto the bird. Put both the bagged bird and bag of ice
in a third plastic bag.
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Place in view of street.
Place the bagged bird in a shady location where it can be seen
from the street (such as on a porch) and let us know in your
report where to find it.
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Wash your hands
well with soap and water right after handling the bird.
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Note.
If possible, tape a note on the outer bag saying: “FOR HEALTH
DEPARTMENT.”
Report
dead birds to:
877-747-2243
or
follow the link below
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