West Nile Virus




West Nile Virus

West Nile virus is transmitted to humans by a bite from an infected mosquito.  During the summer of 2018, the Health Department and DPW will continue our West Nile surveillance and treat catch basins that have standing water for mosquito larva in the spring.  Treating the catch basins with larvicide prevents mosquito larva from becoming adult mosquitoes.  The treated catch basins are retested after 45 days to determine the effectiveness of the treatment. 

Image result for mosquito clipart

Mosquitoes get infected with West Nile virus (WNV) by feeding on infected birds and can then transmit the virus to other animals, birds, and humans.

For more on  West Nile Virus: http://www.cdc.gov/westnile/index.html.

For more on West Nile Virus in Wisconsin: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/arboviral/westnilevirus.htm


Report sick or dead wildlife

Help monitor the health of Wisconsin's wildlife by reporting your sightings of sick or dead wildlife to DNRCustomerServWeb@wisconsin.gov

If you observe five or more sick or dead birds, or three or more sick or dead mammals in one area please email DNRCustomerServWeb@wisconsin.gov. Please include the number of animals, the species, such as raccoon or Canada goose, if they were sick or dead, the specific location where you saw them and your contact information in case further information is needed. Besides groups of wildlife the DNR has disease monitoring programs for the specific wildlife species.
Report observations of single sick or dead animals of the following: 

  • banded loons;
  • peregrine falcons;
  • eagles that have leg bands;
  • trumpeter swans that have leg bands or neck collars;
  • osprey that have leg bands;
  • greater prairie chickens and sharp-tailed grouse;

As of January 2020, the Division of Public Health no longer collects dead birds for West Nile virus testing. Due to this change, the Dead Bird Reporting Hotline (800-433-1610) has been disconnected.

Individual dead birds that are not on the list above can be discarded in your regular trash. To dispose of a bird carcass, use gloves or an inverted plastic bag to place the carcass in a garbage bag. Do not handle dead wildlife with bare hands.