The detection of avian influenza in Nottinghamshire — including a positive whooper swan in Rushcliffe — has led to a mandatory housing order across much of England and a nationwide Avian Influenza Prevention Zone. Mansfield Wildlife Rescue has stopped admitting wild birds and tightened biosecurity, calling the move "heartbreaking". Locals have reported sick and dead swans along the River Trent; authorities ask the public not to feed wildfowl, to keep pets away from birds and to report carcasses for testing. APHA continues year-round surveillance and posts confirmed cases on the government website.
‘Heartbreak’ as bird flu measures force wildlife rescues to turn birds away in Nottinghamshire
The detection of avian influenza in Nottinghamshire — including a positive whooper swan in Rushcliffe — has led to a mandatory housing order across much of England and a nationwide Avian Influenza Prevention Zone. Mansfield Wildlife Rescue has stopped admitting wild birds and tightened biosecurity, calling the move "heartbreaking". Locals have reported sick and dead swans along the River Trent; authorities ask the public not to feed wildfowl, to keep pets away from birds and to report carcasses for testing. APHA continues year-round surveillance and posts confirmed cases on the government website.
01:21 PM, 11/14/2025Environment
‘Heartbreak’ as bird flu measures force wildlife rescues to turn birds away in Nottinghamshire
The discovery of avian influenza in Nottinghamshire has prompted wide-ranging controls and left local wildlife volunteers and communities reeling. Authorities have introduced precautionary measures after a highly contagious strain was detected in wild birds, including a whooper swan confirmed positive in Rushcliffe.
Mansfield Wildlife Rescue has said it can no longer accept sick wild-bird admissions and has put strict on-site biosecurity in place to protect birds already undergoing rehabilitation. Manager Cheryl Martins described the decision as "absolutely heartbreaking" but said staff must prioritise the animals they have in care.
"At the moment, we're literally having to say no. For us, that is absolutely heartbreaking, because we are here to help the animals, not to leave them to die," Ms Martins said. She added that staff now use foot-dips on entry and exit and keep birds confined to minimise infection risk.
Last week, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) introduced a mandatory housing order across large parts of England in response to rising detections. This order supplements a nationwide Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ), which requires all commercial and pet bird keepers to follow enhanced biosecurity measures.
Local amateur wildlife photographer Tammy Mills, who regularly walks the River Trent near Burton Joyce, reported finding several dead or apparently ill swans. She described the first carcass as badly decomposed and said subsequent sightings included birds behaving unusually, such as circling in the water.
Attenborough Nature Reserve — one of the region's largest reserves — said it is closely monitoring the situation and has asked visitors to keep pets away from wild birds and to stop feeding wildfowl, as gathering birds increases the risk of disease transmission.
An Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) spokesperson said the agency carries out year-round surveillance of dead wild birds submitted by the public, but cautioned that birds can die from many causes and not every carcass tests positive for avian influenza. An up-to-date list of confirmed cases is available on the government website.
If you find a sick or dead wild bird, follow public guidance and report it through the official channels so samples can be tested and appropriate action taken.