A falcon from Columbia Falls was confirmed Monday to have died from Montana’s first documented case of a highly contagious strain of bird flu.

The H5N2 strain of “highly pathogenic” avian influenza has never been transmitted to humans, and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention categorize the strain as posing a minimal risk to people. 

But Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Wildlife Veterinarian Jennifer Ramsey said there could be impacts on both wild and domestic birds if the disease spreads.

“The biggest economic impacts would be to the poultry industry, but on the wildlife side we could certainly see entire populations of birds that are susceptible to the disease,” she said.

After the captive gyrfalcon died, its carcass was sent to the state wildlife agency’s laboratory in Bozeman about two weeks ago, said Tahnee Szymanski, an assistant state veterinarian with the Montana Department of Livestock. After preliminary testing, state officials suspected the virus and sent the bird to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, for confirmation.

No other cases have been detected in Montana, but nearby states have had outbreaks of the disease along Pacific migratory routes after it originated in British Columbia in December. Western states such as Washington have been hit by the virus since then, and it has more recently been documented in Minnesota, where tens of thousands of turkeys have died or been pre-emptively killed off on three infected farms.

Waterfowl generally do not exhibit symptoms or die from the virus but act as carriers and can transmit it to more susceptible bird populations, including raptors, domestic poultry and game birds such as pheasants, quail and sage grouse.

The state wildlife agency noted in a press release that infected commercial and game birds may still be eaten, but recommended taking extra sanitary precautions when handling birds, such as wearing gloves, sanitizing all surfaces with which the birds or meat come in contact and ensuring cooked poultry is heated to a minimum of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

For those who raise chickens and other poultry, Szymanski recommended taking extra precautions to limit the spread of pathogens.

“If they live in an area where there is a strong presence of migratory birds, do things that will eliminate contact with them. Make sure wild birds don’t have access to the same food you are feeding the birds,” she said. “Don’t allow them to commingle in open water, limit the birds’ access to that water at this time of year, and if you’re going in and out of an area where you raise birds, wear dedicated footwear.”

State officials are also asking falconers to avoid hunting avian species, especially waterfowl, during an outbreak.

“We’ll be doing outreach and education, and possibly surveys in the immediate area,” Szymanski added. “We’ll be preparing materials to distribute on a statewide basis to any poultry producers, falcon owners and captive bird facilities. If individuals are seeing a sudden onset of illness in their birds or sudden, unexpected mortality, call a local vet or our office.”

Ramsey urged anyone — bird owner or not — to report sightings of sick or dead birds to the state wildlife agency.

The regional Fish, Wildlife and Parks office can be reached at 752-5501, and the state Livestock Department can be reached at (406) 444-2043.

The gyrfalcon is the largest falcon in the world. Gyrfalcons generally are 18 to 25 inches tall and has wingspans of 4 feet, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

The Columbia Falls gyrfalcon weighed between two and three pounds.

Reporter Samuel Wilson can be reached at 758-4407 or by email at swilson@dailyinterlake.com