Avian Influenza is having a serious impact on our nation’s poultry industry. The Wisconsin Waterfowl Association supports sensible and scientific efforts to understand and contain the spread of the Highly Pathogenetic Avian Influenza (HPAI).

But last week’s USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) missive to prohibit bringing hunter-harvested waterfowl across the border from Canada failed on both counts. So WWA’s VP Todd Schaller immediately began investigating. And yesterday he reported they have just changed their stance.

·     Viscera, head, neck, feet, skin, and one wing have been removed; and

·     Feathers have been removed, with the exception of one wing, as required by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for species identification; and

·     Carcasses must be rinsed in fresh, clean, potable water prior to packaging and must not have visible evidence of contamination with dirt, blood, or feces; and

·     Carcasses must be imported in leak-proof plastic packaging and stored in a leak proof cooler or container during transport and import; and

·     Carcasses must be chilled or frozen during transport and import.

There is more on taxidermy requirements, and suggestions on gear cleaning to prevent the spread of HPAI, which can be found with the full APHIS announcement.

Stay Legal out There!