Tick and Dead Bird Report

The DuPage County Health Department uses information collected from residents regarding dead birds observed and ticks sighted in the community as part of our mosquito and tick-borne illness surveillance program.

Please provide details about bird death or tick sightings in DuPage County using the Citizen Reporter link. See the bird and tick identification aids provided, and then submit your findings using the Health Reporter button on that page.

Tools

Guidelines

  • Allow two work days for us to map the species, details and date information that you provide.

Ticks

  • DuPage County Health Department is studying the distribution of Blacklegged ticks, Lone Star ticks, American Dog ticks, and the recently found Gulf Coast tick species in DuPage County.
    • When submitting a report, it may be helpful to include a close-up picture of the tick using the "Attachments" -> "Browse" button on the Report screen. Please give your best guess for the species of tick you are reporting. We cannot post all photos, but they help us to verify species identification.
    • The Health Department does not arrange testing for ticks.
    • DuPage County Health Department will not contact you about your tick reports.

Birds

  • Only report dead birds if there are no obvious causes of death other than disease. Birds with obvious injuries such as wounds or missing parts, crushed carcasses, and birds found along roadways should not be reported.
  • On occasion, the Health Department may contact you if we want to retrieve dead birds for further testing for the presence of West Nile virus.
    • If you have not heard from us within 24 hours of your report, please dispose of the dead bird.
      • Wear rubber or latex gloves (not cloth), or put a plastic bag over your hands, using a shovel to scoop the dead bird into a plastic bag.
      • Always take care to wash your hands after disposing.