Red alert: Government reacts to bird flu in the Kassel district!

Red alert: Government reacts to bird flu in the Kassel district!

What is happening in the Kassel administrative district? In the last few weeks, bird flu (influenza A virus H5N1) has struck again. The Kassel regional council has now issued a general decree that provides for measures to combat the disease in Natura 2000 and nature reserves. This was announced SEK News to provide protection for the feathered inhabitants of our region.

The current outbreaks are alarming. Wild birds such as cranes and whooper swans are particularly affected, and the cuts are urgently needed. There have been several cases of infection in northeast Hesse since mid-October 2025. In order to minimize the risk of infection, dead birds must be recovered as quickly as possible. This also means that veterinary offices and public health authorities now have permission to collect carcasses without prior coordination. This regulation applies until February 28, 2026, during bird migration, which has a particularly strong impact on the bird population in the winter months.

Citizens and emergency services on site

The general decree also brings modern technology into play: emergency services are allowed to use drones to locate infected carcasses. Authorized hunters even have the opportunity to shoot sick cranes and whooper swans to control the spread of the virus. Intervention in protected areas is kept to a minimum - only existing paths may be used to avoid disturbing the wildlife. The rescue work should also take place before 4 p.m. in order to have as little impact on the animals in their natural habitat as possible. Containers for the temporary storage of carcasses can be set up at specified points without the need for prior coordination.

The situation is not just concerning locally; Avian influenza is spreading rapidly, particularly in livestock farms, creating an urgent need to research the virus's spread mechanisms. NABU also reports this. President Jörg-Andreas Krüger expresses concern about the outbreaks and the possible repercussions on wild bird populations. Cranes in particular are severely affected, and it is unclear how the virus entered the population, as an analysis by NABU shows NABU.

A look into the future

It is currently difficult to estimate the losses among cranes, especially since they can only raise one or two young per year. We have around 400,000 European cranes in Germany, but only around 12,500 breeding pairs. Climate conditions and the loss of wetlands are also taking a toll on the crane population. With the Restoration Law, the EU has already created important conditions for improving living spaces, but concrete measures must now be developed in the federal states.

In the midst of these challenges, it becomes clear how important it is to continue to have a good knack for caring for and protecting wild birds. Dealing with nature in harmony is and remains an important task for all of us.