The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has reported multiple waterfowl die-offs across lower Michigan, with preliminary tests pointing to highly pathogenic avian influenza as the cause. Ongoing disease surveillance indicates that avian influenza is widespread in wild bird populations throughout the state.

The Department of Natural Resources confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, was found in a merganser recovered in early February along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Milwaukee County.

Dead wild birds recently sampled across several Lower Peninsula counties are suspected to be positive for bird flu.