As the holiday season approaches, Eastern Iowa-and the Midwest more broadly-is facing a serious threat: H5N1 avian influenza has been confirmed in turkey farms in Minnesota and is moving south. For poultry producers, this isn’t just a seasonal challenge-it’s a critical biosecurity issue. For bird control professionals, it’s also a prime opportunity to demonstrate the value of proactive wildlife management.
Unlike the 2015 outbreak, which spread largely from farm to farm, this year’s resurgence is closely linked to migratory birds. As flocks move south for the fall, they can carry H5N1 directly into areas with dense poultry operations. Farms that host large turkey populations are particularly at risk because these birds are highly susceptible to infection.
Bird Control Angle: This creates a clear selling point for bird management services. Companies can emphasize that professionally managed deterrents reduce the risk of virus introduction from wild birds, protecting both poultry health and farm economics.
Turkeys are typically floor-raised, allowing for easier virus transmission between birds. Compared to chickens or ducks, they are more likely to become infected if wild birds enter barns or feed areas.
Bird Control Angle: Experts can pitch exclusion strategies-netting, overhead wires, spikes, and other proven deterrents-as essential for preventing direct contact between wild birds and farm flocks. Framing this as “preventing the virus at the source” resonates with producers who want to avoid culling losses.
Since the last major outbreak, turkey farms have implemented strict biosecurity protocols, including:
Health screenings for new birds
Physical barriers to keep wild birds out
Segregation or culling of infected flocks
While these measures reduce farm-to-farm transmission, they cannot stop every potential introduction.
Bird Control Angle: Bird control professionals can position themselves as a critical layer of defense. Messaging like “Biosecurity is strong-but gaps remain where wild birds are concerned” highlights how services can complement existing farm protocols.
With Thanksgiving approaching, any sustained H5N1 outbreak could affect turkey availability and prices. Farms are acutely aware that preventing infection isn’t just about animal health-it’s about protecting their bottom line.
Bird Control Angle: Services that mitigate wild bird intrusion can be marketed as an investment in financial stability for producers. “Invest in bird control today to avoid costly losses tomorrow” is a compelling message.
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H5N1 also threatens wild bird populations and ecosystems. While the current strain poses very low risk to the general public, cross-species transmission remains a concern for workers handling infected birds.
Bird Control Angle: Bird management companies can expand their narrative beyond farms to municipal, commercial, and conservation applications. Emphasizing ecosystem protection and public safety broadens potential sales opportunities.
Prevention is cheaper than cleanup: Avoid costly culling and biosecurity breaches.
Protect high-value flocks: Turkeys are particularly vulnerable, making proactive deterrence essential.
Complement farm biosecurity: Professional bird control is a critical layer that fences, screens, and human vigilance alone cannot fully replace.
Holiday readiness: Timing matters-implementing controls now protects producers when demand and economic stakes are highest.
The H5N1 threat underscores the vital role of bird control in modern poultry operations. Migrating birds are a real vector, turkey flocks are highly susceptible, and farms cannot relax even with established biosecurity measures. Bird control experts can leverage this moment to position their services as an essential investment in farm protection, ecosystem safety, and economic stability during the high-stakes holiday season.