NEW YORK (1010 WINS) –Several New Jersey parks will remain closed after a dead goose tested positive for bird flu, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection announced last week.
The Canada geese, found on Feb. 4 at Dr. Farmer’s Park, the Millpond, Pete Sensi Park, and the parking lot along the waterway of Heritage Park in Monmouth County, all tested positive for the virus, the agency said.
“These parks will remain closed until further notice,” the NJDEP said in a statement. Additionally, fishing is prohibited at this time.
“Do not touch any dead birds or bird feces,” the statement warned. “Do not feed or handle wildlife.”
"This weekend, Avian flu was detected in North Jersey for the first time since the outbreak began," Rep. Josh Gottheimer wrote on X. "We must contain this outbreak immediately to lower already high egg prices for hardworking Jersey families."
Allentown spent thousands of dollars to have the carcasses professionally removed.
"It's the droppings of the geese that people can get infected by," Allentown Mayor Thomas Fritts told ABC7. "Their pets can be infected by this as well."
"They were taken away to a specialty facility, where they either buried them or incinerated them," Fritts said.
Residents are urged to report any additional goose deaths to Borough Hall staff at 609-259-3151.