A dead bird may not be infected with West Nile Virus, but in case it is, you should dispose of any bird carcasses, to reduce risk of infection by people and animals.

Have these supplies ready prior to picking up the dead bird:

• Shovel
• Gloves (heavy-duty leak-proof rubber)
• Two garbage bags or heavy plastic bags. Have one bag opened

Use a shovel to pick up the dead bird and place it in double garbage bags, being careful not to puncture the garbage bags. If you can bury the bird close by, carry it over in the shovel without putting it in bags.

Alternately you could carefully pick up the bird using heavy-duty leak-proof rubber gloves. If gloves are not available for the handling of the carcass, several layers of leak-proof plastic bags may be used as a glove. Grasp the body of bird (being careful not to grasp the claws or beak) with your hand protected by the two layers of leak-proof plastic bags and then turn the bags inside-out over the bird so it ends up inside the bags, with your hand on the outside. Handle the bird so that the beak or claws do not puncture the bag, gloves or your skin.

The plastic bags containing the bird should be closed tightly.

Place the bagged bird in a garbage can to be taken to the sanitary landfill (dump). Do not dispose of it in a way that it will be handled by other people or exposed to other wildlife. In areas with no landfill, birds should be buried deep enough so as not to be disturbed by wild animals.

If your gloves are the re-usable type, wash your gloved hands with soap and water before taking them off. Then wash your hands with soap and water. If a shovel is used wash the shovel with warm soapy water and expose to sunlight.