80 Dead Birds With Presumed Bird Flu Found In Burlington Co. Town

EVESHAM, NJ — Dozens of dead birds with suspected bird flu were reported in Evesham, local officials said Thursday.

The Evesham Township Office of Emergency Management says it's recently received multiple reports of sick or dead birds. About 80 dead geese and small birds have been confirmed, officials said.

Officials have asked Evesham residents to avoid handling or disturbing any sick or dead birds, and to report sightings directly to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP).

Recently, New Jersey has seen a surge in wild birds with suspected bird flu. More than 1,100 sick or dead wild birds were reported across the state during Presidents' Day weekend, an NJDEP spokesperson told Patch. Most instances involved dead Canada geese.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza — a particularly potent bird flu strain known as H5N1 — has been at the center of an outbreak that federal officials have monitored since early 2022.

H5N1 can sicken humans. But officials say it poses little public-health risk, especially to people who don't regularly come in contact with birds.

However, the public is advised to take precautions:

• Avoid contact with sick or dead birds.
• Keep pets away from affected areas.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after outdoor activities.
• Report concerns directly to the NJDEP.

No human cases of H5N1 have been reported in New Jersey since the outbreak began in 2022. The disease has primarily impacted wild birds.

In Burlington County, cases in wild birds go back at least a year. A dead good found in Pemberton tested positive for H5N1 in February 2025.

Bird flu was detected on a commercial farm in Burlington County last month, marking the county's only-known instance of the disease in a domestic population since the outbreak began.

Sick and dead birds have been found recently in several South Jersey communities, including Hainesport, Gloucester Township and multiple Gloucester County locations.

Dozens of dead geese were seen in and around Alcyon Lake in Pitman, prompting officials to close two adjacent parks until further notice earlier this week.

Visit Burlington County's H5N1 webpage for more information.