Quick Answers
If you find a dead hummingbird in your yard or garden, here are some quick recommendations:
– Wear gloves when handling the body – hummingbirds can carry diseases.
– Dispose of the body far away from other birds or animals who could eat it.
– Don’t touch the body with your bare hands. Use gloves, a paper towel or disposable chopsticks.
– Don’t bury the body – scavengers may dig it up. It’s better to discard it in the trash.
– Report unusual numbers of dead hummingbirds to your local wildlife agency. It could signal an environmental hazard.
– Don’t keep the body as a specimen. It’s illegal to possess native bird parts without permits.
– Consider calling a wildlife rehabilitator if the cause of death is unclear. They may want to examine the body.
What to Do Step-by-Step
Follow these steps for properly handling and disposing of a deceased hummingbird:
Step 1. Document the Find
If you encounter multiple dead hummingbirds or find them in an unusual location, document the details:
– Date and time you found the body
– Specific location
– Number of bodies
– Photos (from a distance)
This information could help wildlife authorities identify risks in the area.
Step 2. Wear Protective Gear
Before touching the body, protect yourself with:
– Gloves – latex, rubber, or other waterproof material
– Long sleeves and pants – avoid contact with skin
– Face mask – deceased birds may carry airborne pathogens
Bird diseases like avian influenza rarely infect humans, but it’s best to take precautions.
Step 3. Collect the Body
Use an inverted plastic bag, paper towel, or disposable chopsticks to pick up the carcass. Avoid skin contact and turn the bag inside-out around the body.
Don’t use your bare hands to collect the body. Even though risks are low, birds can transmit disease.
Step 4. Seal in an Airtight Bag
Place the body with collecting material into a sealable plastic bag. Seal the bag tightly to contain any pathogens.
Double-bagging provides extra insurance if the outer bag rips.
Step 5. Disinfect Yourself and the Area
Even with precautions, decontaminate:
– Hands – Scrub thoroughly with soap and hot water. Use hand sanitizer as an extra measure.
– Clothes and shoes – Change clothes and sanitize shoes after handling the body. Wash clothes separately in hot water.
– Surfaces – Disinfect any surfaces the body contacted. Bleach solutions kill most bird pathogens.
This reduces the already-minimal risk of disease transmission.
Step 6. Dispose of the Body Properly
Do not bury the body or place it outdoors where scavengers could consume it. Recommended disposal methods:
– Household trash – Double-bagged, the body can go in your regular garbage. Tell waste collectors there’s a dead animal inside.
– Incineration – Check if your municipal waste department incinerates trash. Incineration destroys pathogens most effectively.
– Wildlife agency – Your local fish and wildlife office may accept carcasses for testing and disposal. Give them the documentation.
Step 7. Sterilize the Collecting Materials
Thoroughly clean any materials that contacted the body:
– Reusable gloves – Wash in hot, soapy water. Rinse, then disinfect with bleach.
– Paper towels – Seal in a plastic bag and place in the regular trash.
– Chopsticks or tools – Clean with soap and hot water, then soak in a bleach solution.
Proper sterilization prevents the indirect spread of pathogens.
Safe Removal of Attached Hummingbirds
If you find a deceased hummingbird still attached to a feeder or plant, remove it carefully:
– Wear waterproof gloves – Avoid contact between bird fluids and bare skin.
– Loosen the body gently – Carefully detach it from any entangled materials like threads, bristles, or branches.
– Collect it directly – Place into a plastic bag turned inside-out over your hand. Avoid setting it down before bagging it.
– Clean and disinfect the feeder or plant – Scrub away any bodily fluids clinging to surfaces. Soak in a bleach solution.
– Wash hands and gloves thoroughly – Use hot, soapy water and sanitize with hand sanitizer.
– Dispose of the body properly – Use the disposal methods recommended in Step 6 above.
With care, the intact body can be removed and disposed of safely. This helps prevent spread of disease.
Is it Legal to Keep a Deceased Hummingbird?
In most cases, no. Native hummingbird species are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and state wildlife laws. These regulations generally prohibit possessing feathers or body parts without permits.
However, you may be able to obtain authorization to salvage the body if:
– Your state wildlife agency requests specimens for research.
– You coordinate with an educational institution that holds salvage permits.
– A museum curator agrees to accession the specimen into museum collections.
Without a permit or authorization, it’s best to follow proper disposal procedures. Fines for unlawfully possessing bird parts can be up to $15,000.
Should I Have the Body Tested?
If you encountered multiple deceased hummingbirds or found mass mortalities, having the bodies tested may provide useful information.
Situations when testing may be warranted:
| Signs of disease | – Visible tumors, lesions, or swelling |
| Abnormal appearances | – Feather loss, emaciation, or strange colors |
| Mass casualties | – 5+ dead birds found in a short time frame |
| Endangered species | – Death of a rare or protected species |
Contact your state wildlife agency or wildlife rehabilitation center to arrange diagnostic testing. Provide documentation about the die-off.
Necropsies and lab work can reveal causes of death like:
– Pesticide poisoning
– Parasites or infectious disease
– Toxic organic compounds
– Loss of habitat
This data helps track environmental risks and inform conservation efforts.
Can I Bury a Hummingbird?
Burying deceased hummingbirds is not recommended. Shallow graves may allow scavengers to dig up the body and spread disease. And deeper burial can contaminate groundwater from decomposing remains.
The most ecologically safe options are:
– Incinerating the body
– Sealing it in a bag and placing in household trash
– Working with wildlife authorities for proper disposal
If you opt to bury a body, choose an extremely remote location at least 3 feet deep in the ground. But again, authorized disposal methods are safer.
Dangers of Touching Dead Hummingbirds
Is touching a dead hummingbird potentially hazardous? While risks are low, there are some dangers to be aware of:
Disease transmission
Hummingbirds can carry over 30 avian diseases. Some can spread to people via mucous membranes. Wearing protective gear minimizes risks.
Mites and ticks
The bird may host external parasites like mites or ticks. They can bite or infect you. Ticks are especially concerning if carrying Lyme disease.
Fungi and yeast
Aspergillosis, candidiasis, and cryptococcus are fungal infections found in hummingbirds. Inhaling spores can cause respiratory issues.
Toxic pesticides
Pesticide exposure can poison or kill hummingbirds. Handling contaminated bodies may expose you to neurotoxic chemicals.
With protective wear and hygiene, risks are low. But caution should be taken, especially if the bird appears diseased or decayed. Contact a professional if you have health concerns.
How to Tell if a Hummingbird is Sick
Hummingbirds are experts at masking illness. But watch for these subtle signs of a potentially unwell bird:
| Changes in appearance | – Missing patches of feathers, swollen eyes |
| Changes in behavior | – Lethargy, loss of alertness, unusual tameness |
| Changes in habitat | – Being grounded, found on the floor or low branches |
| Changes in movement | – Wobbling, loss of coordination, weak flying |
| Labored breathing | – Rapid or heavy breathing motions |
| Discharge | – Draining eyes, nostrils, or beak |
Sick hummers may also appear fluffed up for warmth or be unable to perch properly. Contact a wildlife rehabilitator immediately if you suspect illness – timing is critical. Capture and transport the bird carefully using a towel-lined box with air holes. With quick action, antibiotics or supportive care can sometimes save its life.
Preventing Hummingbird Deaths
To minimize deaths, pay attention to hummingbird health and safety:
– Keep feeders extremely clean – Dirty nectar spreads disease. Change it daily.
– Avoid overcrowding at feeders – Limit fighting, contamination risks, and collisions.
– Position feeders out of reach – Cats or other predators can’t snatch feeding birds.
– Use safe pesticides – Even natural sprays can be toxic. Prioritize non-chemical methods.
– Provide insect nourishment – Leave untouched woodland and flowering plants to harbor their food source.
– Reduce collisions – Apply decals to windows so hummers don’t fly into them.
– Keep pets indoors – Cats and dogs can injure, kill, or transmit disease to hummingbirds.
– Report hazards – Contact authorities if you notice environmental threats in their habitat.
With vigilance and care, we can create safer spaces for hummingbirds to prevent unnecessary losses.
What to Do If You Find a Dead Hummingbird Nestling
Finding a deceased chick or fledgling is heartbreaking but requires the same precautions:
– Always wear gloves and protective garments when handling the body.
– Gently detach the bird from any materials it’s entangled in. You may need small scissors to trim away fibers ensnaring it.
– Collect and seal the body in a plastic bag turned inside-out over your hand. Avoid direct contact.
– Thoroughly scrub any surfaces the body touched with soap and water, followed by disinfectant.
– Safely dispose of the body via the recommended methods – incineration, trash burial, or transfer to authorities.
– Sterilize the gloves, tools, and any other items contacting the chick.
– Monitor the nest to see if mortalities continue. Call wildlife rehabilitators for advice.
Though difficult, proper handling prevents disease transfer to other birds or animals. And necropsies may reveal threats impacting the local hummingbird population.
Conclusion
Encountering a deceased hummingbird can be upsetting, but proper removal and disposal helps protect wildlife and human health. With protective gear, safe handling procedures, and authorized disposal methods, the risks are minimal. Being attentive to hummingbird welfare, reducing hazards, and reporting die-offs contribute to keeping these captivating birds safe. With care and vigilance, we can prevent unnecessary losses and honor the dead by protecting the living.
