Italian Lake in Harrisburg (file photo)
If you hear a loud noise around Italian Lake later this week, don’t be alarmed, Harrisburg officials say.
On Thursday morning, the USDA Wildlife Services will be at the lake sampling wild ducks and geese for avian influenza, a disease common in wild birds that also is affecting domesticated poultry, according to the city.
USDA’s wildlife disease biologists will capture birds using a new net launcher that makes a loud noise, like a bang. After the birds are captured, they will undergo a “quick swabbing” before being released, officials said.
“We want the public to be made aware of this event so that no one is alarmed or panics due to the noise,” stated a city press release.
The event will start 8:30 to 9 a.m. on Thursday.
If birds test positive, the USDA will not take action other than to monitor sick or dead birds since the disease circulates naturally in wild birds, the city said, adding that the USDA has done this procedure before on Italian Lake and at no cost to the city.
“We are focused on determining if and where the disease occurs and what strains may be circulating,” stated Kyle Van Why, wildlife disease biologist, USDA Wildlife Services.
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