Ducks and geese may be missing from Idaho's county fairs as state officials are recommending a ban on waterfowl to fight the spread of bird flu.
The Idaho Press-Tribunereports that the Idaho State Department of Agriculture plans to release a recommendation this week that fair boards prohibit showing ducks and other waterfowl. Such birds can be asymptomatic, meaning they can spread the disease while appearing healthy.
Officials are also recommending heightened bio-security for all birds at fairgrounds. There should be no sharing of food or food pans by exhibitors and no touching of birds by the public.
In January avian influenza killed several birds in a Canyon County private falcon flock. State officials also euthanized all the chickens in a backyard poultry flock near Parma.