Caden Perry, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Updated Wed, October 7, 2026 at 11:14 AM PDT

2 min read

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.

Add Yahoo on Google

1

Avian influenza has been detected in a backyard chicken flock in Racine County, according to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Officials said risk of the infection spreading is low for the general public.

The 121 chickens in the backyard operation and other poultry operations within 10 kilometers – roughly six miles – have been quarantined. This is the sixth avian flu case in Wisconsin this year and the fourth in Racine County since 2022.

There are no movement restrictions on poultry at this time, the department said. The last time poultry movement was restricted to slow infections in the spring, when millions of chickens were infected.

Advertisement

Avian influenza, or bird flu, is a virus that infects poultry and waterfowl. Infections can spread from bird-to-bird contact and through manure, tools, equipment, vehicles and clothing.

Department officials believe the Racine County flock was infected via commingling of poultry with wild waterfowl.

More: Wisconsin respiratory illness rates rise but activity remains very low

In poultry, signs of avian flu infection include sudden death, misshapen eggs, coughing, sneezing, swelling, lack of energy, difficulty breathing, stumbling and diarrhea. Avian flu has a 90% to 100% mortality rate in poultry.

Commercial and backyard poultry handlers should always wash their hands before and after handling poultry, restrict access to wild birds, disinfect equipment and keep new birds separate from existing flocks for 30 days.

Humans can get sick from infected birds, but the current strain of avian flu does not easily spread from person to person.

If you suspect your poultry has been infected with avian flu, the department recommends contacting your district veterinarian immediately. Sick or dead wild birds should be reported to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources at DNRWildlifeSwitchboard@wisconsin.gov or 608-267-0866.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Avian flu detected in Racine County backyard poultry flock

Avian flu detected in Racine County backyard poultry flock

DNR says the wolves were ‘humanely euthanized’ following ‘verified threats to human health and safety’

By Joe Schulz

9 wolves killed by federal officials in northern Wisconsin after threatening behavior to humans – WPR

October 2, 2026

Nine wolves were killed by federal officials in northern Wisconsin in late August and early September, following “a series of verified threats to human health and safety,” according to the state Department of Natural Resources.

In a statement Friday afternoon, a spokesperson for the Wisconsin DNR said the threats to humans occurred in rural Price County and were reported between July 2025 through August 2026.

Prior to pursuing euthanasia, the DNR recommended “numerous non-lethal measures,” like removing potential attractants, auditory harassment, increasing lighting and increasing human activity.

Understanding Wisconsin, Together.

WPR’s “Wisconsin Today” newsletter keeps you connected to the state you love without feeling overwhelmed. No paywall. No agenda. No corporate filter.EmailSubscribe

“Unfortunately, these did not resolve the issue,” the spokesperson said. “Reports demonstrated a pattern of behavioral escalation, with the wolves showing less response to hazing and more acclimation to human presence.”

In late August and early September, the nine wolves were “trapped and humanely euthanized” by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services division, within the agency’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

A spokesperson for the USDA said the Wildlife Services program does not have a decision-making role in wolf issues.

“We investigate and let the state know if it was a probable or confirmed threat — if it wasn’t, we also let them know that,” the USDA spokesperson said in a statement. “The Wisconsin DNR has the authority to determine, based on the severity of the threat, the next steps.”

The DNR says the agency was in contact with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service throughout the decision-making process, and the “lethal removal actions were taken” under authorities of the the Endangered Species Act.

“The DNR acknowledges the sensitivity of these actions,” the DNR spokesperson stated. “Such decisions are not made lightly.”

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel was the first to report the wolf deaths. The paper reported that the wolves were all believed to be part of the same pack.

Wolf attacks on humans are rare. There have only been two fatal wolf attacks on humans across North America in the last 20 years. Researchers have documented at least 26 fatal wolf attacks worldwide from 2002 to 2020.

This is the first time wolves were killed by officials in Wisconsin since a federal court ruling in 2022 gave gray wolves endangered species protections in the lower 48 states.

The DNR has been monitoring Wisconsin’s wolf population since the 1970s. The agency released projections this summer showing the state’s wolf population fell slightly this year. They estimated this year’s population was 1,162 wolves in about 321 packs, down slightly from last year’s estimate of 1,225 and the 2024 estimate of 1,311.

The removal of the nine wolves in northern Wisconsin is expected to “have no lasting negative biological impact on the wolf population in the area,” the DNR spokesperson stated.

The state is working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to transfer the remains of the euthanized wolves to the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission as a recognition of “the profound cultural and spiritual significance for the Ojibwe and other tribes,” the DNR spokesperson added.

Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2026, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.

By Madeline Bartos

October 6, 2026 / 7:57 PM EDT / CBS Pittsburgh

Add CBS News on Google

A Pennsylvania wildlife center got a call from a woman who was trying to catch a cat but instead caught a fox or dog. It turns out what she had really trapped was a sick coyote. 

The Raven Ridge Wildlife Center in Washington Boro, Lancaster County, said the woman wasn’t sure what animal she had caught in her trap, but when they saw the photo, they realized it was a coyote suffering from mange. He was so hungry, weak and sore that he had gone into the trap in search of food. 

In 11 years of operating, Raven Ridge Wildlife Center said this is only the second coyote they’ve ever cared for. 

“The rehabilitation process for this coyote will be lengthy, but our team is dedicated to supporting his recovery from pain, fear, and discomfort,” the wildlife center wrote in a Facebook post. 

As a keystone species, coyotes play a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems, the wildlife center said. Coyotes help control small mammal populations, preventing overgrazing and seed damage. This also reduces the risk of diseases like Lyme disease. And coyotes regulate populations of mesocarnivores like skunks and raccoons, helping support the survival of ground-nesting birds. 

The wildlife center said coyotes are “highly elusive and intelligent animals” that have learned to adapt to both rural and urban environments.  

“This adaptability may also contribute to public fear and misunderstanding,” Raven Ridge wrote on Facebook. “Through their intelligence and resilience, coyotes demonstrate our own potential to adapt and coexist amid rapid ecological and social changes. By fostering greater understanding and appreciation for coyotes and other native carnivores, we can move beyond fear and ignorance.”

Fox or dog? Sick coyote caught in trap meant for cat in Pennsylvania – CBS Pittsburgh