North Dakota officials monitoring bird population

Photo by: North Dakota Game and Fish Department
Photo by: North Dakota Game and Fish Department

(Bismarck, ND) -- Officials are monitoring the health of North Dakota's bird population.

The move comes after 85-thousand birds were euthanized recently because of an avian flu outbreak in South Dakota. North Dakota officials say they hope infection numbers reflect a previous outbreak in 2015, when infection numbers peaked in the spring.

North Dakota Game and Fish Wildlife Veterinarian Charlie Bonson says the state is facing a different strain without a known pattern. Bird flu can affect poultry, waterfowl, shorebirds, and raptors.