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In the province North Brabant, an old female badger (Meles meles) was found dead in March 2025, in a garden close to a badger sett (an underground tunnel system where badgers live). The badger was thin and dehydrated. The animal was sent in and examined by the DWHC.

The faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Utrecht University regularly compiles dossiers on a variety of topics. Their latest dossier focuses on zoonoses, diseases transmissible from animals to humans, which is a key aspect of the work of the DWHC.

Between mid-April and early May, there was an increase in reports of sick and dead Barnacle Geese as a result of infection with the avian influenza virus (bird flu virus). This mainly concerned birds that stayed behind at gathering sites in the eastern Wadden Sea area while their conspecifics continued their

The year 2024, like 2023, had the beaver (Castor fiber) as the focus species of the DWHC. In 2024, a total of 38 dead beavers were reported to us, of which 8 beavers were collected for research. These included 7 female beavers and 1 male beaver. The beavers came from Gelderland, North-Brabant, North-Holland,

In recent weeks, Common Kestrels infected with highly pathogenic bird flu (H5N1) have been found in several places in the Netherlands. In January 2025, seven Common Kestrels were examined at the DWHC, of ​​which three were found to be infected with bird flu (see map). Two of these birds were found in Friesland,

On January 2nd a male hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) was found in Limburg. The animal was in poor condition and therefore euthanized, after which it was sent to DWHC for examination.

This message was updated on February 24th, 2025; the map has been updated with the latest results.

The common Kestrel and the Peregrine Falcon are the ‘DWHC focus animals’ of 2025. Our goal is to investigate more Common Kestrels and Peregrine Falcons on their cause of death. Common Kestrels and Peregrine Falcons are birds of prey that are high up in the food chain. By eating prey, they can also become infected

In addition to birds, mammals can also be infected with bird flu. On January 11th, 2025, a fox exhibiting abnormal neurological behavior was found in Hoofddorp. This was reported to the NVWA, after which it tested positive for bird flu.

The current outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus, which has caused increased bird mortality in the Netherlands since November, is spreading rapidly. Barnacle Geese in the Northern parts of the Netherlands in particular are greatly affected, but the virus has also been detected in other species and other