Bird flu confirmed in Clarendon County bald eagle as SCDNR warns about sick wild birds
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Harvest outlook favors hunters ahead of Minnesota deer firearms opener
State expands hunting-license buybacks as reported deer deaths from viral disease jump to 791
ByJoshua Haiar-November 6, 2026 12:05 pm
A white-tailed buck roams South Dakota’s Karl E. Mundt National Wildlife Refuge in 2022. (Photo courtesy of Liz Julian/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
Reports of deer deaths from a viral disease have jumped by hundreds in recent weeks, prompting South Dakota wildlife officials to expand a program allowing hunters to return their licenses for a refund.
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease is a viral illness spread by tiny biting midges typically found along muddy shorelines. In South Dakota, the disease primarily impacts white-tailed deer, according to the Department of Game, Fish and Parks.
Mule deer, bighorn sheep, elk and pronghorn can also be infected. The department says the disease usually affects deer herds in late summer or early fall. Warm conditions such as those in much of South Dakota this fall can extend the period when the insects are active, while a hard freeze of about 25 degrees generally kills them off, bringing a seasonal outbreak to an end.
During last month’s Game, Fish and Parks Commission meeting, the department said death reports for the year stood at 407. The total has since risen to 791.
Game, Fish and Parks Secretary Kevin Robling said Thursday’s commission meeting the department is concerned, but “the great news is, white-tails, in particular, have an incredible reproductive performance, can multiply very quickly.”
“We will recover from this, no doubt,” he said. “So we’ll continue being conservative with our harvest strategies and our tag allocations, and we will recover. It will take a couple of years, but we will recover.”
The state has taken several steps to limit deer hunting in outbreak-affected areas, aiming to give deer populations a better chance to recover. The department removed mentored and youth deer licenses in nine southeastern South Dakota counties where outbreaks have affected deer in the past two years. It also removed 62 unsold licenses, two in McPherson County and 60 in Dewey County. The state changed statewide archery license rules, which previously allowed hunters to take any deer, to buck-only licenses.
The department offered hunters holding deer licenses along the Missouri River corridor to voluntarily return their licenses for a full refund. That program has been expanded to some western parts of the state and more areas in southcentral and southeastern South Dakota.
The department asks people to report sick or dead deer via methods listed at gfp.sd.gov/contactus. Officials enter reports into a system that updates the department’s public online map.
Search continuing for missing hunter near Douglas Lake
Diwali: A Festival of Lights, but a time of suffering for animals
Diwali: A Festival of Lights, but a time of suffering for animals
5 min.
Diwali: A Festival of Lights, but a time of suffering for animals
The noise of firecrackers, toxic smoke and bright flashes of light may mean a few hours of celebration for humans. But for animals, the Hindu Festival of Lights, Diwali, on Sunday can bring fear, injuries and even death.
The hunting of owls in the name of superstition makes their suffering even worse.
Across India, Diwali night brings dazzling fireworks, loud explosions and celebrations in homes and streets. But for some creatures, this night is far from joyful. It can be a frightening experience.
Pet dogs hiding inside homes, stray dogs running around in panic, birds frightened in their nests, bats sheltering in trees and owls searching for food at night all face different kinds of difficulties during the festival.
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Noise causes fear and stress
“We call Diwali a festival of lights and happiness. But the question is, should our celebrations come at the cost of fear and suffering for other living creatures?” asks Babulal Jaju, Rajasthan regional coordinator of the Indian animal welfare organization People for Animals.
Dogs and cats, in particular, have a different hearing range from humans. Sudden loud explosions can trigger fear and stress in them. Some animals start trembling, bark continuously, try to hide or run around in panic. Many stop eating and move away from places they are familiar with.
A report by Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in Ludhiana, Punjab, says the noise and pollution caused by firecrackers during Diwali can be harmful to pets.
According to the report, frightened animals may run uncontrollably, putting themselves at risk of injuries and even death. The smoke can also cause serious breathing problems.
Stray cattle, cats and dogs have nowhere safe to go. They have no quiet room or protected space where they can escape the noise. Frightened by explosions, they may run onto roads, collide with vehicles or lose their way. Stray dogs may also get into fights with dogs from other neighbourhoods.
Similar problems affect domestic animals. Horses, cattle and other livestock may panic, break their ropes, hit fences or suddenly run away. Although every animal reacts differently, the risk of accidents caused by fear is real.
Firecrackers pose a threat to birds
People often burst firecrackers near trees and in open spaces. Frightened by the sudden explosions, birds resting in trees take flight.
In the darkness, they may lose their way and end up in unfamiliar places. They can collide with trees, buildings and other obstacles, leaving them injured or disabled.
The impact is not limited to adult birds. Sometimes, birds that fly away in panic are unable to find their way back to their nests. Their chicks are then left without food and parental care. If their parents remain away for too long, the young birds may not survive.
Experts say the world of birds at night is very different from that of humans. Many birds rest in darkness, while nocturnal birds such as owls come out to search for food. Sudden explosions and bright flashes in the sky disturb their normal activities.
For small birds and those living in densely populated areas, finding a safe place to shelter can become even more difficult.
An international research review published in 2022 examined the impact of fireworks on wildlife. Drawing on examples from festivals around the world, including Diwali in India, it found that the noise and light produced by fireworks can affect wildlife behaviour, breeding and migration patterns.
Researchers warned that the effects may continue beyond the night of the celebrations.
In Bengaluru, Karnataka, wildlife rescue centers received a large number of injured animals for treatment during Diwali in 2024. According to the figures from one centre, 126 animals were rescued between October 30 and November 4. These included 109 birds, 11 reptiles and six mammals.
Firecracker pollution affects humans and wildlife alike
Dr Paras Jain, a consultant physician in Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, explains that burning firecrackers releases fine particles, certain metal compounds and pollutants such as sulphur dioxide into the air.
These pollutants affect not only humans but also animals and birds. Fine particles in the air enter the body through breathing and can cause health problems, particularly in sensitive creatures.
A scientific study on air pollution during Diwali recorded a significant rise in pollution and noise levels during the festival. It found that firecrackers considerably increased the amount of dust and fine particles in the air. Pollution levels in the area studied were much higher than normal.
The noise from firecracker explosions was also extremely loud, reaching an average level of 101 decibels. Such high noise levels cause discomfort and stress to humans and animals.
Vijay Kumar Koli, head of the Zoology Department at Mohanlal Sukhadia University in Udaipur and a bird expert, says noise pollution increases during the four to five days around Diwali. Burning gunpowder releases smoke and toxic pollutants into the environment.
The impact of smoke is not limited to breathing problems. Particles and chemical residues from firecrackers can also settle in soil and water. Most birds feed on the ground, while dogs and other animals may lick contaminated surfaces.
According to Dr Koli, the environmental impact of Diwali cannot be understood only through the haze visible the next morning or air quality readings. It is also important to study changes in animal and bird behaviour, injuries, rescue operations and the wider effects of pollution.
Owls pay the price for superstition
During Diwali, owls often pay a heavy price for people’s superstitions. Their illegal hunting, trade and use in alleged tantric rituals are well documented.
There are several beliefs associated with owls in Indian society. Some people consider the owl the vehicle of Goddess Lakshmi, while others associate it with wealth, good fortune or supposed tantric powers.
Wildlife traffickers exploit these beliefs to capture and sell owls. Reports of owls being sacrificed or their body parts being used in rituals continue to emerge.
Although the hunting and trade of all Indian owl species are prohibited under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, this illegal practice continues.
A report by TRAFFIC, an international organisation that monitors wildlife trade, documented the illegal owl trade in India. According to the report, 15 of the 30 owl species recorded in India had been found in the domestic live bird trade.
It also referred to owl sacrifices and the alleged use of their body parts in tantric rituals, warning of a possible increase in such trade around Diwali.
The report was based mainly on surveys conducted between 1992 and 2000, along with additional information collected between 2001 and 2008.
Releasing the report in 2010, Jairam Ramesh, India’s then Union Minister for Environment and Forests, said owls were as important to the ecosystem as tigers and other well-known wildlife species.
He stressed the need to highlight the threats facing owls during Diwali and take concrete action on the ground to stop their illegal trade.
He also said that Diwali should be a time of celebration across the country, not a time when wildlife is hunted because of ignorance and superstition.
Local hunter shares near-death experience as officials emphasize hunting safety
Bird Flu Risk Is Rising This Fall — Here’s What Pet Owners Need to Know
Is America on the brink of sparking a new flu pandemic?
Maeve Cullinan
Wed, November 4, 2026 at 10:00 PM PST
9 min read
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Is America on the brink of sparking a new flu pandemic?
America is closer than ever to harbouring the next flu pandemic, leading experts have warned.
H5N1, the avian flu that has decimated bird populations worldwide, is spreading through US cattle herds, raging on one of the country’s largest mink farms and, in the past few weeks, has infected three people in Washington state, one of whom has died.
The new cases bring the total number of people in the US infected with H5N1 since 2022 to 75. There have been three deaths.
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Scientists say deep cuts to the federal agencies responsible for protecting human and animal health under the Trump administration have allowed the virus to spread largely unchecked, sharply raising the risk of a human outbreak.
The more the virus circulates in animals, the more people are exposed to it, and the more chances it has to adapt to humans, experts say.
H5N1 has shown no sign so far of spreading between people, but if it did, it is feared the virus could trigger a global pandemic with a very high human cost.
The Telegraph spoke to leading virologists, many of whom argue that America is getting closer to becoming ground zero for the next flu pandemic.
It would not be the first time. The first case of H1N1, the “Spanish flu”, is thought to have emerged at an army base in Kansas in March 1918, and the pandemic went on to kill more than 50 million people.
“It does feel like a disaster waiting to happen,” said Prof Ed Hutchinson, a molecular and cellular virologist at the University of Glasgow.
“We keep having a series of near misses, and I wonder how long our luck is going to hold.”
A preventable outbreak
H5N1 reached the US in 2021, carried by wild birds that had migrated from Europe.
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For two years, it behaved much as it has elsewhere.
It infected farmed poultry, forcing mass culls at chicken and turkey farms, and occasionally jumped to mammals that had fed on infected carcasses, including seals, dolphins, bears, coyotes and foxes.
The same scenario has played out across the world, including in Britain, where more than three million farmed birds have been culled since 2020 in an attempt to stamp out the virus.
But in late 2023, there was a significant and unusual development in the US.
At a cattle farm in Texas, H5N1 infected a single dairy cow, most likely through contact with infected bird droppings in its feed. In most mammals, the virus quickly dies out, but this time it began spreading rapidly from cow to cow.
Within months, hundreds of herds across more than 12 states had been infected.
In the US, cows are often raised on farms in one state and then moved to large commercial milking centres in another, meaning that at any given time thousands of animals are being moved across the country.
Because cows infected with H5N1 do not always show obvious signs of illness, hundreds of thousands of sick cattle have been unwittingly moved across state lines, bringing the virus into new regions.
The practice has been heavily criticised for the biosecurity risk it carries.
“The cow infections have been totally preventable,” said Marc Johnson, a virologist at the University of Missouri.
“Cattle infection usually lasts a few weeks, and then they recover. If they just separated the infected herds or animals until it fizzled, then it would stop. But they keep moving cattle around and spreading it to new states.”
Surveillance efforts on cattle farms have also been significantly wound down under the Trump administration.
“There was a lot of openness and transparency at the end of the Biden administration, and they were really open about some of the challenges in getting farms to open up to testing,” Dr Devi Sridhar, a professor of global health at the University of Edinburgh, told The Telegraph.
“Then Trump came in, and everything went quiet. And I don’t think it went quiet because it went away. It went quiet because they just stopped tracking it.”
Of the 75 human cases in the US, at least 50 have been linked directly to cattle farming, meaning the outbreak in cows has become the main route by which the virus is reaching people.
Most human cases linked to cattle have been mild, and far less dangerous than historic cases linked to infections from wild or farmed birds. Of the roughly 1,000 human cases of H5N1 linked to birds since it first emerged in China in 1997, around half have died.
But on November 1, the first person to be infected with the cow variant of H5N1, known as genotype B.13, was confirmed to have died.
The individual, who worked on a farm in Washington where at least 40 herds have been infected with H5N1, had underlying health conditions, which may have exacerbated the disease, and died shortly after becoming sick – but the development is still of concern, say experts.
“This goes against the pattern of mild disease when infected from dairy cattle, versus severe disease when infected from birds, which is worrying given the circulation in cattle,” said Dr Sridhar.
Reassortment risks
One of the biggest fears among scientists is that bird flu could combine with ordinary seasonal influenza to create a new strain capable of spreading easily between people.
“This is a time of year when we can expect to see more circulation of [human] seasonal influenza,” said Dr Marion Koopmans, professor of public health virology at Erasmus MC Medical Centre in the Netherlands.
“A bad scenario would be that someone working with cattle brought the ‘regular’ human flu in, got [H5N1] on top of that, and that develops into a mix that can spread but to which people have less immunity.
“The chances of such an event are very low, but it is a concern shared among virologists.”
The process, known as reassortment, occurs when two flu viruses infect the same animal or person and exchange genetic material, potentially creating a new strain.
Scientists are particularly concerned as H5N1 spreads beyond cattle and into other mammals – chiefly mink.
For more than two months, an outbreak has raged on a Utah farm housing thousands of mink, according to an investigation by US news outlet ProPublica.
Mink farms have previously been described as potential pandemic “time bombs”, because their respiratory systems are similar to those of humans, meaning viruses spread easily between them and people.
Despite calls for the animals to be culled, Utah officials have so far refused to mandate action, ProPublica reported.
The investigation also suggested that state officials were prioritising the financial interests of the fur industry, which exports much of its produce to China and Russia, while federal authorities had failed to intervene.
H5N1 has previously spread through mink farms in Spain and Finland, but authorities in those countries took much tougher action.
“There was really vigorous state intervention and culling. In Finland, they used widespread culling and vaccination programmes,” said Prof Hutchinson.
“It doesn’t sound like there’s been a great deal of enthusiasm for intervention [in the US] on behalf of the authorities.
“So you have this ongoing situation where the virus is replicating on a mink farm, which would be an ideal situation for the virus to slowly adapt to something more suitable to humans.
“As we move into the flu season, more and more of the people are also likely to be carrying human influenza at the same time [as potentially being infected with H5N1].”
Prof Hutchinson also warned that the vulnerability of some farm workers could make the outbreak harder to monitor.
“In the US system, a lot of the people working in the farming sector are undocumented workers. They are less likely to be engaged with public health surveillance than some other groups for obvious reasons,” he said.
Reassortment has been the cause of several major flu pandemics.
In 2009, a new strain of H1N1, commonly known as swine flu, emerged in Mexico and spread around the world within months, ultimately causing an estimated 150,000 deaths.
The virus emerged after different strains of bird, pig and human influenza exchanged genetic material, creating a new strain to which much of the population had little existing immunity.
Several countries, including Britain, have stockpiled supplies of H5N1 vaccines designed for humans, in preparation for the possibility that the virus begins spreading between people.
The US holds a federal stockpile of five million doses of bird flu vaccine. The doses are grown and cultured inside chicken eggs, the traditional method of manufacturing seasonal flu jabs.
While effective, the process is relatively slow, and experts have warned that producing enough vaccines to meet demand in a pandemic could take months.
In May last year, US health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine sceptic, cancelled a $766 million contract with Moderna to develop an mRNA vaccine against H5N1 – a technology that could offer a much faster way of delivering vaccines than traditional egg-based production. He said the technology “poses more risks than benefits” for respiratory viruses – a view that experts said was baseless.
“This is how outbreaks happen,” Dr Krutika Kuppalli, associate professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Texas Southwestern said.
“You have continued spread of the disease; you’re not controlling it, and it allows the virus to evolve. So at some point, we’ll potentially see more human cases.
“If we develop human-to-human spread, that could really set things off.”
The “blue tsunami” brought in by the US midterms could offer some hope, experts say.
Many hope that a new wave of Democrats in the House and Senate will put pressure on Trump to protect science funding and reinstate some of the people and departments fired in deep federal cuts to the US Centers for Disease Control and US Department of Agriculture last year.
“We’re hoping you’ll have more [strong] voices going into government, and more scientific transparency,” said Dr Sridhar.
Please Join Us Leafleting for Turkeys at the White House – SaturdayNovember 14
*This is a great opportunity to leaflet and speak to a lot of visitors
about the beauty and suffering of turkeys and promote the turkeys’ message,
“Don’t Gobble Me!”*
Saturday, November 14, 2026: *Leafleting for Turkeys at the White House
<https://www.facebook.com/share/1E6VYFkqpf/>, Washington*, DC. *UPC will
leaflet for turkeys in Lafayette Park across from the White House from Noon
to 3 p.m. Posters, Banners, and Turkeys Brochures
<https://upc-online.org/turkeys/turkeysbro.html> will be provided. All we
need is YOU! For information, email info@upc-online.org.*
On November 13, 14 & 15, we will be running our “Don’t Gobble Me! Be Kind
to Turkeys. Go Vegan!” message on a truck driving around downtown *Philadelphia,
PA *for 8 hours each day.
We are also running our “Don’t Gobble Me! Be Kind to Turkeys. Go Vegan!” ad
on 100 bus shelters in *Miami* during the month of November.
—
United Poultry Concerns is a nonprofit organization that promotes
the compassionate and respectful treatment of domestic fowl.
Don’t just switch from beef to chicken. Go Vegan.
https://www.UPC-online.org/ http://www.twitter.com/upcnews
https://www.facebook.com/UnitedPoultryConcerns
View this article online
<https://upc-online.org/turkeys/261104_please_join_us_leafleting_for_turkeys_at_the_white_house.html>
