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Louisiana Wildlife Officials Remind Hunters and the General Public to Use Precautions When Preparing and Handling Harvested Wildlife

On September 28, 2022, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) issued a reminder to hunters and the general public to exercise caution when handling and preparing harvested wildlife.

Hunters and the general public should be aware of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), often known as bird flu. This year’s flu has not been found in Louisiana, but it has been detected in 46 states, including Texas and Mississippi. LDWF frequently analyzes reports of sick or dead birds if a considerable number of birds are affected.

While the virus poses little risk to people, it is vital to avoid contact with sick birds and to be aware that the infection may be spread through your hunting equipment. Plan for additional biosecurity measures if you shoot waterfowl or have backyard poultry.

The following are some general safety rules for hunters and those who work with wildlife and their tissues:

• Do not handle or eat sick game.
• Field dress and prepare game outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
• Wear rubber or disposable nitrile gloves while handling and cleaning game.
• When done handling game, wash hands thoroughly with soap or disinfectant and clean knives, equipment, and surfaces that were exposed to game with hot soapy water and a 10% bleach solution.
• Do not eat, drink or consume tobacco products while handling animals.
• All game should be thoroughly cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Avoid contact with surfaces that appear to be contaminated with feces from wild or domestic birds.
• Waterfowl hunters should adhere to these guidelines

Some precautions to take around birds include:

• As a general rule, people should avoid wild birds and observe them only from a distance.
• Avoid contact with domestic birds (poultry) that appear ill or have died.
• People who work with poultry and wild birds should receive the annual influenza (flu) vaccine. This action reduces the potential for genetic changes in avian influenza that may render the virus more apt to infect people, thus increasing the potential of pandemic influenza.

Contact LDWF State Veterinarian Dr. James LaCour at [email protected] or LDWF Assistant State Veterinarian Dr. Rusty Berry at [email protected] for further information.

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