Overview
- ODNR crews collected 72 black vultures from St. Bernadette School in Pierce Township on Friday morning.
- Township leaders say ODNR initially declined to collect or test the birds, then agreed to assist after media outreach.
- ODNR says the vultures are presumed positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza under county protocols and is gathering additional samples.
- Clermont County Public Health arranged testing, with two birds sent to a state animal lab and results expected early next week.
- Fire Chief Craig Wright urges calm as officials describe the current risk to humans as very low and ask residents to report additional dead birds.