In The Coop: Episode 41: Wildlife, Bird Migration, HPAI Risk & Preparing for Fall

Oct 1, 2026

As fall
arrives, millions of wild birds move through Ontario — but don’t
forget other wildlife are also on the move.  It is during that seasonal
change that poultry producers should consider all aspects of their
biosecurity planning. 

In this
episode of
In the Coop, Charlotte Wall and Tom Lewis speak
with
Chris Sharp, Population Management Biologist with Environment and
Climate Change Canada, about wildlife, not just
bird migration, but also seasonal HPAI risk and what poultry
producers can do to prepare their farms for fall and winter.

Chris
explains what triggers migration, why different bird species
migrate at different times, and why periods when birds congregate
can be particularly important from a disease-risk perspective. The
conversation also explores the role of waterfowl, scavenging
wildlife and other species that may interact with poultry farms.
The recent research shows interesting trends, and understanding is
the first step to preparing.

For
producers, the discussion turns to practical measures that can help
reduce opportunities for wildlife to interact with poultry and the
production environment — including managing standing water and feed
spills, protecting feed and water, maintaining barn integrity,
managing deadstock and reviewing traffic, equipment and footwear
biosecurity.

The
episode also emphasizes an important point:
producers don’t need to wait for wild birds to arrive before
reviewing their biosecurity practices. Fall is an
ideal time for a practical biosecurity reset.

Resources

Environment and Climate Change Canada

• Information on migratory birds and Canadian bird surveys

Ontario — Avian Influenza in Poultry

Ontario: Avian influenza in poultry

Ontario — Biosecurity Recommendations for Commercial Poultry
Flocks

Ontario: Biosecurity recommendations for commercial poultry
flocks

Ontario’s
biosecurity recommendations specifically address wild birds,
wildlife exclusion, feed and water contamination, deadstock
management and maintaining barn integrity.

Ontario — Avian Influenza / Animal Health
Information

Ontario: Avian influenza

Ontario
recommends reporting sick or dead birds and other wildlife found on
your property to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative.

Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC)
Canadian
Wildlife Health Cooperative

Ontario wildlife reporting

If you
find
sick or dead wild birds or other wildlife on your
property, avoid direct contact and report the
finding to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative.

CWHC Ontario Regional Centre

📞
1-866-673-4781

📧
on-nu@cwhc-rcsf.ca

Ontario’s
current animal-health guidance identifies the CWHC as the
organization to contact regarding sick or dead wildlife and notes
that wildlife may be submitted for testing at the University of
Guelph’s Animal Health Laboratory.

CWHC Avian Influenza Testing Results

CWHC Avian Influenza Testing Results

This page
provides current CWHC information on avian influenza testing
results, including dead-bird surveillance data.

Please note: For concerns about

sick poultry or increased mortality in a domestic
flock, producers should contact their veterinarian.
Ontario guidance directs veterinarians with suspected avian
influenza to contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.