Mystery Songbird Illness Not Yet In Wisconsin, But DNR Is Looking

MILWAUKEE, WI — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is keeping watch for sick birds.

Reports of an unidentified illness blinding birds such as crows and mourning doves broke out in Ohio in late June. Symptoms include white crust around the eyes and damage to the bird's nervous system, Fox 8 reported.

See Also: Unidentified Sickness Blinding, Killing Birds In Ohio

The cause of the illness hasn't been determined after birds were tested for toxins, parasites, bacterial disease or viral infections, the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine said in a statement.

Songbirds like blue jays, robins and cardinals are among the afflicted birds reported, the university said.

It's unknown if the illness is transmitted from bird to bird, the Associated Press reported.

However, some government agencies recommending people in afflicted states to cease feeding birds and clean bird baths and feeders with a 10 percent bleach solution, the U.S. Geological Survey said in a statement.

Wisconsin DNR is following reports of sick and dying birds in Ohio and other states, mostly east and south of Wisconsin, department wildlife disease specialist Nancy Businga told Patch.

Wisconsin has no reported cases of the illness yet, she added.

If any of the sick birds are found, they will be submitted to the National Wildlife Health Center in Madison for necropsy and diagnostic testing, Businga said. The health center has collected some of the birds from Ohio already, she added.

The first case was reported near Washington in late May, Businga said.

Chris Mosby and The Associated Press contributed to this article.