Bird Flu Concerns Spread in South Jersey
HAINESPORT, N.J. — Growing worries about a potential bird flu outbreak in South Jersey have now reached Burlington County after more dead geese and ducks were discovered in local neighborhoods.
Officials from Gloucester County have stated that the public risk remains low, although they are advising residents to avoid sick or deceased birds. Yet, in Hainesport, residents are finding that they must take on the task of cleaning up and disposing of the dead birds themselves, which has left many surprised by the sheer number they are encountering.
Chiquita Anderson, a resident of the Lakeside at Creekview community, shared a distressing experience: her son witnessed a bird fall from the sky right in their backyard.
“A bird just could not catch flight,” Anderson recounted, expressing how traumatic it was for her son. “He fell right there to his death.” This sort of incident has certainly added to the mounting sense of anxiety among the community.
Residents have noted that the lake behind Anderson’s home used to be teeming with geese. Now, while some are still alive, many are either sick or dead. In fact, various birds have wandered into residential areas, succumbing to illness in the streets or on properties.
“They’re just dead on the sidewalk,” pointed out Leah Miller, a Hainesport resident.
“It’s severely affecting the town here, and especially this lake. It’s killing literally hundreds of geese and even many ducks, and it’s very gruesome to watch,” added John Cane, another neighbor. A photo shared among residents depicted a bird upside down on a porch, and another was found dead at a bus stop meant for children.
“Kids have to either stand there or stand at a different corner or get driven to school just because the geese are everywhere,” Miller explained.
Across the state, New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection received reports of over 1,100 dead or sick birds from Saturday to Monday. In Gloucester County, Betty Park and Alcyon Park have been closed until further notice due to numerous reports of sick birds near Alcyon Lake.
Anderson expressed how difficult it has been to witness such distressing scenes. “They die such a slow, I mean … it’s a traumatizing death,” she said, conveying the emotional toll it has on residents.
In Hainesport, township officials informed the public that state agencies are unable to assist with clean-up efforts due to the overwhelming number of reports statewide. Residents have been given guidance on safe disposal of birds, which includes using gloves, masks, eye protection, and double-bagging deceased animals.
“Today, I literally bagged 18 dead geese and I have probably another 10 or 20 more in my yard to go,” Cane said, highlighting the issue’s magnitude.
The local homeowners’ association is currently discussing possible solutions to address the situation. Additionally, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has established a system for reporting dead and sick birds, with more details available on their website.
