Dead Geese Found In Monmouth County Parks, Officials Say

MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ — Monmouth County officials are working with NJ wildlife biologists after dead and infirm Canadian Geese were found in some county parks.

In a statement posted on Tuesday, the Monmouth County Park System said Park Rangers have seen the geese in some of their parks, and that Avian Flu is suspected (though an official cause has not yet been determined).

Park officials are urging visitors to stay away from the birds while they work to resolve the issue.

“We are working with State wildlife biologists to assess the extent of the outbreak,” the Park System said. “Visitors are urged not to touch dead or sick birds."

While the Park System did not specify which parks the birds were seen in, a spokesperson for the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJ DEP) told Patch that between Saturday and Monday, over 1,100 dead or sick wild birds were reported statewide to the department.

Almost all the reports are of Canada Geese, with a few reports of other bird species, including brant, along the coast (though officials said testing for brant came back negative for bird influenza earlier this month).

Over the past weekend, NJ DEP said it has received reports of dead Canada geese in the following locations:

• Holmdel, Manalapan and Matawan in Monmouth County
• Basking Ridge in Somerset County
• Hainesport, Burlington County
• Edison, Middlesex County
• Sicklerville, Camden County

"The [NJ DEP] Fish & Wildlife and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are tracking incidences of suspected bird flu cases in wildlife around the state," the spokesperson said. "Functions DEP performs include testing wild bird mortalities and diagnosing infections, issuing guidance for waterfowl hunters and wildlife rehabilitators, and keeping the public informed through online resources."

"NJ DEP Fish & Wildlife is coordinating with local officials to dispose of bird carcasses whenever feasible," the spokesperson continued. "Testing for bird influenza will only occur if the virus has not been detected in the county or under special circumstances (for example, a mortality event that occurs near a poultry facility)."

"NJ DEP Fish & Wildlife has coordinated with several landfills across the state to safely accept and dispose of carcasses."

In a statement sent to Patch, Monmouth County officials urged residents to avoid contact with wild birds if they can, and to take precautions to protect themselves.

"The NJ DEP is the lead on all testing and announcements regarding Avian Influenza," county officials said. "With that said, Monmouth County officials urge residents to take precautions and avoid contact with wild birds."

Cases of dead or sick birds should be reported directly to the NJ DEP at 1-877-927-6337, county officials said. They can also be reported here.

Reports of dead geese found in Monmouth County parks come after a drone video showed sick and dying geese by the Swimming River Reservoir in Middletown, News 12 New Jersey reported.

According to the report, American Water, which owns and operates the reservoir, said there is no risk to the water supply.

In a statement sent to Patch, an NJ American Water spokesperson said NJ American Water is closely monitoring the situation and has notified the Fish & Wildlife Division of the NJ DEP.

On Monday, the spokesperson said the company deployed a drone flight to survey the reservoir, and while there are many birds and waterfowl there, only about a dozen geese appeared to be deceased.

"There is no impact to the supply or to the safety and quality of the water, and residents can continue to use their water as normal," the spokesperson said. "Water leaving our Swimming River Treatment Plant is tested and monitored 24/7 to safely and reliably deliver millions of gallons daily to the customers within our Coastal North system."

Alongside reports of dead geese found in Monmouth County, two South Jersey parks were also closed on Tuesday after several dead geese were found around their shared lake, and dead wild birds were also found in Somerset County parks.

These discoveries come as Avian Influenza (H5N1) continues to impact wild and domestic birds across the United States.

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), H5N1 has killed two people in the U.S. since 2024, with 71 cases reported in the country overall.

The virus has caused outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cows, though the current risk to humans is low, the federal agency said. There is no known person-to-person spread at this time.

To protect yourself from Avian Influenza, the CDC recommends the following steps:

• Avoid direct contact with sick or dead wild birds, poultry, dairy cows and other animals. Observe them only from a distance.
• If you must have direct or close contact with sick or dead wild birds, poultry, or other animals, wear recommended personal protective equipment.
• Do not touch surfaces or materials contaminated with saliva, mucous, or animal feces from wild or domesticated birds, dairy cows, or other animals with confirmed or suspected Avian Bird Influenza A Virus infection.
• Do not touch or consume raw milk or raw milk products, especially from animals with confirmed or suspected Avian Influenza A Virus infection or in areas known to have infected herds.

To learn more, you can visit the CDC website or the NJ DEP website.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated with additional information from the NJ DEP.

Related

• Parks Closed After Dead Geese Emerge Around Lake In South Jersey
• Dead Wild Birds Found At Somerset County Parks