Staff Reports
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has announced that Hoosiers in 76 counties across Indiana, including Bartholomew, may resume feeding birds.
In the remaining counties, which are Allen, Carroll, Clark, Floyd, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Lake, Marion, Monroe, Morgan, Porter, St. Joseph, Tippecanoe and Whitley, the DNR is recommending community members refrain from feeding birds while an investigation continues into what is killing songbirds statewide.
DNR recommended the statewide moratorium on bird feeding June 25 to slow the spread of a still-undetermined illness killing birds across the state. Hoosiers removed feeders, cleaned birdbaths and submitted more than 3,400 reports of sick or dead birds to the state.
DNR biologists believe there were more than 500 cases in 72 counties involving a very specific set of clinical signs which included crusty eyes, eye discharge and/or neurological issues.
For the counties that are allowed to again feed birds, DNR officials recommend seed and suet feeders should be cleaned at least once every two weeks by scrubbing feeders with soap0 and water, followed by a short soak in a 10% bleach solution.
Feeders should then be thoroughly rinsed and dried before being filled with birdseed.
Hummingbird feeders should be cleaned at least once a week with a 10% bleach solution and rinsed thoroughly.
Indiana is continuing to work with USGS National Wildlife Health Center’s avian disease experts and will continue to provide samples for testing.
If you see a sick or dead bird with the symptoms mentioned above, report it at IN.gov/sickwildlife.
