Bird Flu Safety Tips Offered In Hillsborough After Dead Geese Found

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — The Township is sharing information and tips about the bird flu after six dead geese were reported at a pond in Hillsborough.

The flyer includes tips to stay safe including:

• Avoid direct contact with wild birds
• Do not touch wild or domestic birds that appear ill or have died
• Avoid touching surfaces contaminated by sick birds or animals without proper protections
• Do not drink or eat raw milk, raw milk products, or undercooked poultry or eggs. Do not give these to your pets either
• Keep pets away from wild birds, poultry, and cattle

If residents encounter a sick or dead bird, do not touch it. Call the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection at 1-877-WARNDEP or the New Jersey Department of Agriculture at 609-671-6400 or state.veterinarian@ag.nj.gov.

The dead geese in Hillsborough were reported on Friday on top of local pond across the street from Hillsborough High School.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has attributed massive die-offs of Canada geese around New Jersey to the H5N1 bird flu. However, it is currently unclear if the dead geese are connected to the recent outbreak of bird flu throughout the state.

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