A slap on the face of the wolves and their supporters!!

Apr 7, 2026

Bird flu spread could be impacted by where waterfowl like to live – UGA Today

—

By 

Savannah Peat

Research

Yearly migrations are a major factor in the spread of H5N1, or bird flu, but new research suggests travel outside that period may also impact the virus’ spread. (Photo by Dorothy Kozlowski/UGA)

Reduced movement in human-heavy landscapes may change how the virus travels

The movement patterns of waterfowl, including ducks, swans and geese, may affect the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza in bird populations, according to a new study from the University of Georgia.

Researchers found that birds travel much shorter distances in areas with human activity, likely because those landscapes have plenty of food, water and shelter.

When birds stay in one place, disease doesn’t spread as much. But it could also mean more intense hotspots of disease outbreaks in concentrated areas.

By understanding the movement patterns of waterfowl outside of typical migration periods, scientists could better predict where bird flu, or H5N1, might spread next.

“Birds are like us. They’re always responding to what’s around them, whether that’s food availability or disturbance from people or other animals,” said Claire Teitelbaum, assistant unit leader with the U.S. Geological Survey’s Georgia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, lead author of the study and an adjunct assistant professor in the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. “We can take the environment, predict how much we think birds are moving and then use that to predict where avian flu is going to go.”

Waterfowl stay put in areas with diverse habitats, human influence

The researchers analyzed 20 years of data containing movement information from more than 4,600 total waterfowl spanning 26 species in the Northern Hemisphere. The scientists tracked how far the waterfowl moved over time during breeding and winter seasons, when birds “commute” regularly between areas used for resting and eating.

The distance of these so-called commutes, which took place outside of their regular seasonal migrations, appeared to depend on the birds’ environment. Birds in uniform areas, such as vast expanses of grasslands or farmlands, traveled six times farther to acquire food or a safe location to rest compared to birds in more diverse landscapes.

The waterfowl in those more varied landscapes, which ranged from wetlands to urban green spaces, often didn’t need to travel more than a mile around their “home” to meet all or most of their daily needs.

“If we provide enough diverse attractive habitats, these animals may want to stick around,”  Teitelbaum said. “Like humans, if you live in a suburban neighborhood where it’s just single-family homes for miles and miles, you’re going to have to drive miles and miles out of that area to get to work or shop. If you live in an urban center, you have everything you need right there.”

Locations with a significant human population also played a role, as they were more likely to have protected green spaces with water sources or cover. Human activity could also mean literal blocks that prevent bird movement, such as roads or fences.

Birds in these regions traveled about one-third of the distance of birds residing in sparser areas.

Different seasons could play role in bird flu spread outside of seasonal migrations

While yearly migrations are a major factor in the spread of H5N1, the present study aimed to understand how flight during breeding and winter seasons may add to transmission.

The researchers found that during winter months, movements were over twice as far when compared to travel during the breeding season. Waterfowl often had to fly farther in their daily routines to secure food or places to sleep, potentially carrying the virus with them.

In addition to studying these daily movements, the researchers found the same patterns when studying birds’ weekly movement distances. That’s key, Teitelbaum explained, as one week is also the incubation period for the virus.

Breeding season could present its own challenges. During this time, birds were less likely to travel far distances, instead remaining close to their nests. Although that can limit wider spread, it also could increase the risk for localized hotspots of the virus.

“If we want to keep the flu from spreading, we might want to see what we can do to keep the birds in one place, but there’s that flipside. Outbreaks happen when birds are in high density, so we might have increased transmission locally,” she said. “That’s the underpinning: How can we link the distances that birds are moving to the distances that flu is moving?”

This study was published in Ecology Letters.

Brian Whipkey

Pennsylvania Outdoors Columnist

April 6, 2026, 3:16 p.m. ET

PA Game Commission sets 2026-27 hunting seasons for deer, small game

• Rifle deer season is set to begin the Saturday after Thanksgiving and will include three Sundays.
• The commission will also vote on several land acquisitions, exchanges, and a mining agreement.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission plans to adopt the final hunting seasons and bag limits for the 2026-27 hunting year on April 11, including keeping the opening day of rifle deer on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, but extending some small game seasons in to rifle deer season.

The board’s tentative meeting agenda sets rifle deer season to begin on Nov. 28, a Saturday, and continue through Sunday, Dec. 13. The season would include three Sundays. In recent years, the season ended on a Saturday and the only Sunday was the second day of the season.

New this year, the agency has several small game opportunities overlapping with rifle deer season.

The first squirrel season is expected to be Sept. 12-Dec. 24, cottontails and grouse are proposed Oct. 17-Dec. 24 and the early pheasant season is slated for Oct. 24-Dec. 24.

More: Pennsylvania lawmakers propose hunter education course in schoolsNeed a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!For that hunt of a lifetime: Want a trophy mount? Pennsylvania taxidermists share their best tips

Also new for the 2026-27 license year, each hunting season includes the Sundays between the dates. Last year, the governor signed a bill and lifted the ban on Sunday hunting. The 2025 fall seasons included 13 Sundays.

In addition to finalizing all of the hunting seasons, the agency will also announce the number of antlerless deer licenses that will be available.

Game Commission to finalize hunting seasons April 11. What’s expectedPennsylvania lawmakers propose hunter education course in schoolsPennsylvania bill could improve how hunters harvest snow geeseWant a trophy mount? Pennsylvania taxidermists share their best tipsPennsylvania deer harvest up, archers take more bucksPrescribed fires reveal deer antlers, attract wild turkeys across Pa.Pennsylvania’s wildlife comeback is redemption story for deer, turkeyPennsylvania’s retired turkey biologist receives national awardPennsylvania’s top hunting instructor recognized for impactNew opportunities coming to hunt doe on PA properties with crop losses.New application, other changes made to help Pennsylvania elk huntersLook at some of 2025’s big bucks, bears, elk and fish in Pennsylvania

Land purchases, trades

The agency’s board will also vote on several land acquisitions, exchanges and mining agreements, including the following:

• Cyrus Palmer Dolbin, et al., are offering 117.8 acres of land in Wayne Township, Schuylkill County, an indenture to State Game Land No. 110 for $155,000. The agency reports the property is located along the Kittatinny Ridge, an important bird area, and is also part of the Blue Mountain Natural Heritage Area.
• Kovalchick Salvage Company is offering an 18-acre right-of-way on State Game Land No. 332 in Young and Blacklick Townships, Indiana County for $5,000. The right-of-way will provide administrative and lawful user access to the existing game lands.
• Allan Myers is offering 49 acres in West Keating Township, Clinton County, adjoining State Game Land No. 321, to the Commission in exchange for 49 acres of State Game Land No. 321. In addition to the land exchange, Myers has offered the acquisition of a private road to the agency for $26,000. The agency reports this road access from New Garden Road is vital for administrative and lawful users of State Game Land No. 321.
• The Game Commission is considering a bituminous coal surface mining agreement with RES Coal of Armagh on Game Land 198 in Cresson Township, Cambria County, and Juniata Township Blair County. RES requested an amendment to its September 2024 agreement to increase surface mining and support acres by 81.7 acres. If approved, the total acreage for the mining effort would include 207.7 acres. The agency owns the surface, but not the coal rights. RES plans to pay the Game Commission an additional $1,049,219 for the additional property. The fee would be reduced by $461,727 if RES cannot mine the electric right-of-way corridor over a five-year period.
• The PGC is considering a land exchange and water use agreement on Game Land 111 in Lower Turkeyfoot Township, Somerset County. The Confluence Municipal Borough Water Authority (CMBWA) has requested to complete drilling and establish appropriate right-of-way agreements for four water wells on State Game Land No. 111 to supply approximately 700 residents of Confluence with drinking water. In exchange, the authority would convey 46.4 acres of land to the agency. After 25 years, the PGC can assess an annual water production royalty payment of up to 2% of gross receipts.

The Game Commission’s board meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. April 11 at its headquarters in Harrisburg. The full agenda is available on the agency’s website.