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Due to equipment upgrades, WMHD (Greenville) and WBSQ (Monson) will be shut off during the daytime hours for the duration of this week.

Status of avian flu in Maine elevated to 'high'

A Canadian goose bathes in a pond at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge a week ahead of National Wildlife Refuge Week, Monday, Oct. 8, 2018, in Seneca Falls, N.Y.
Julio Cortez
/
AP
A Canadian goose bathes in a pond at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge a week ahead of National Wildlife Refuge Week, Monday, Oct. 8, 2018, in Seneca Falls, N.Y.

The risk status of avian flu in Maine has been elevated from 'moderate' to 'high'.

"And the reason is migration," said Jim Britt, spokesperson for the state Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry.

Britt said migratory birds are on the move and it's their interaction with commercial and backyard flocks that spreads avian flu.

"It really is the time of year for everyone who is a bird keeper, a commercial bird operator, to be increasing biosecurity and doing everything possible and everything right to protect these birds," Britt said.

Three wild birds in York County recently tested positive for avian flu: two Canada geese and a great horned owl.

Britt notes that avian flu, which is highly contagious in bird populations, has also been detected in other New England states.

Find more information here.