Important Notice from the Board of Health
Residents are being asked to report sightings of dead birds to the Health Department at (413) 323-0406 or (413) 967-9615.
Dead crows, or multiple dead birds in the same location, in good condition (no injuries, no signs of decomposition, and eyes still present and round, not sunken) will be collected by health department staff for shipment to the State Laboratory for West Nile Virus testing.
Reports of dead birds, even those not collected for testing, is an important surveillance tool. The health department is tracking locations.
Although there has been no reports of West Nile being contracted through handling of live or dead birds, you should follow safety precautions. Never touch dead birds with bare hands. Use plastic gloves, or cover your hands with double plastic bags. Use a shovel to move the bird. Dead birds not collected for testing can be buried 2-3 feet deep; or double bagged and placed in the trash for disposal.
A dead bird is not necessary indicative of West Nile Virus. Birds die from a variety of causes including accidents and predators.