Residents in 76 counties can resume feeding birds, The Indiana Department of Natural Resources announced Monday in a press release.
Residents in Monroe County are encouraged to continue refraining from feeding birds in addition to Allen, Carroll, Clark, Floyd, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Lake, Marion, Morgan, Porter, St. Joseph, Tippecanoe and Whitley County, according to the press release.
The bird illness is consistently affecting specific areas and there is no imminent threat to the population of a particular bird species or overall population of birds in Indiana, according to the press release.
The DNR recommended all Hoosiers stop bird feeding beginning June 25 to prevent the spread of an undetermined bird illness. There have been over 3,400 reports of sick or dead birds, according to the press release.
The United States Geological Survey’s National Wildlife Health Center avian disease experts are working to determine the cause of the disease, according to the release.
Symptoms of the bird illness include crusty eyes, eye discharge and neurological problems, according to the DNR website.
Residents can report sick or dying birds on the DNR website.
In counties where bird feeders may be continued, feeders should be cleaned at least once every two weeks with soap and water followed by a short soak in 10% bleach solution and rinsed thoroughly, according to the press release.
