As Goose Break begins, many Naskapi families are heading out onto the land to hunt, cook, and share meals of Canadian geese.
πΈΒ Photo by Louisa-Pearl Einish
To help everyone stay informed, the Indigenous Relations Centre of Expertise for the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) has provided guidance on the current avian influenza (bird flu) situation. This information is especially important for communities like ours that rely on traditional hunting.
Goose Hunting Is Safe β With a Few Precautions
Human cases of avian flu are very rare and are usually caused by close, prolonged contact with infected poultryβnot wild birds.
There isΒ no evidenceΒ that eatingΒ fully cookedΒ goose meat or eggs cause avian flu.
To stay safe:
- Cook all game meat and organs toΒ 74Β°C (165Β°F)
- Cook whole birds toΒ 82Β°C (180Β°F)
- Never feed raw wild bird meat to pets or hunting dogs
Avoid touching sick or dead birds with your bare hands. If you need to move them, use gloves or double plastic bags.
How to Spot Avian Flu in Birds
Watch out for:
- Unusual behavior like tremors or lack of coordination
- Swelling around the head, neck, or eyes
- Coughing, sneezing, or gasping
- Diarrhea or sudden death
If you see a sick or dead bird:
- CallΒ 877-346-6763
- In Cree territory:Β 819-855-2878 (Cree Trapper Association)
- In Nunavik:Β 819-964-2925 (Nunavik Research Centre)
More Resources
π Wildlife and avian influenza β Handling guidelines β Canada.ca
π What is Avian Flu? β Cree Health
π Avian Influenza β Nunavik Health Board
π Avian Flu β Quebec
π Avian Flu Map β ArcGIS