The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is asking everyone, especially landowners, to report dead sage grouse, so the birds can be tested for West Nile virus.

West Nile virus is spread by certain mosquitoes, and is usually fatal to sage grouse. Evidence of the disease has been reported in past years in northeast Wyoming and in surrounding states, including a sage grouse in North Dakota.

Leslie Schreiber, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s sage grouse/sagebrush biologist, said this year’s precipitation and warm weather has created favorable conditions for mosquitoes.

“Warm nighttime temperatures are thought to enhance the ability of the West Nile virus to multiply in the gut of the mosquito,” Schreiber said. “If conditions are warm between now and the end of August, we could see the virus show up this year.”

Testing dead birds helps Game and Fish monitor the scope and impact of the disease across the state.

“We are particularly interested in sage grouse found in remote areas that have no obvious injuries that might have resulted in their death,” Schreiber said.

She added that obvious roadkills should not be reported. Schreiber emphasized the need to report dead birds to local Game and Fish personnel quickly so the birds don’t deteriorate to the point they can no longer be tested.