Cranes in distress: Hunters are allowed to kill sick birds to be on the safe side!

Cranes in distress: Hunters are allowed to kill sick birds to be on the safe side!

The situation in the district is dramatic. Avian influenza is rampant and while the situation has become threatening for many wild birds, especially cranes, there is now a crucial measure to contain this animal disease. On November 7, 2025, the district passed an exception that allows hunters to kill suffering cranes. This became necessary because the birds suffering from the H5N1 virus hardly fly anymore and some even drown.

The symptoms of cranes are alarming. They show signs such as stumbling, disorientation and complete inability to move. Medical assistance cannot be provided for the birds, making the situation even more precarious. Diseases in these majestic birds are currently a serious problem in the region, which is also being observed in the Stade district. Wild birds, especially cranes, are affected by avian influenza for the first time this year, as landkreis-stade.de reports.

Exception until January 2026

The decision to exempt from the strict ban on killing, which actually applies to protected cranes, was made in coordination between various offices such as the veterinary sector, consumer protection, nature conservation and hunting authorities and the hunters. This regulation, which is valid until January 31, 2026, aims to prevent the spread of the highly contagious avian influenza and to remove the suffering animals as humanely as possible.

Dr. Sibylle Witthöft, head of the Veterinary and Consumer Protection Office, supports the measure to alleviate animal suffering and emphasizes the need to quickly recover the carcasses. This is crucial to avoid further infections, because infected animals can serve as food for birds of prey and spread the disease.

The threat of bird flu

Avian influenza, caused by the H5N1 virus, has spread rapidly. The situation is critical; since mid-October 2025, numerous cranes have been dying in roosting places, feeding areas and even on highways. The virus has also caused many wild bird deaths in other parts of Europe, such as France and Spain. An example of this is the over 8,000 cranes that died in Israel in 2021 - an indication of the connection between intensive poultry farming and disease outbreaks in wild bird populations, as oberes-rhinluch.de notes.

The crane protection organizations are active and document the measures taken. Volunteers support the veterinary offices in recovering the carcasses. It is recommended to regularly check roosting areas and grazing areas for dead birds, as other birds such as geese and sea eagles are also affected. How long avian influenza will continue to strike is uncertain, and the impact on the crane population along the Western European Flyway cannot yet be estimated.

The authorities' decision is both a sign of hope for the suffering cranes and a necessary measure to control the spread of the dangerous bird flu. This means a great responsibility for the hunters in the region and the need to handle this extraordinary situation appropriately and sensitively.