Waterfowl and Wild Bird Hunting Banned in 32 Deux‑Sèvres Communes Amid Avian Flu Outbreak

Résumé du texte (français)

• Contexte sanitaire : Un troisième foyer de grippe aviaire (virus H5N1) a été détecté dans les Deux‑Sèvres, entraînant l’abattage de 12 000 dindes à Clessé.
• Mesures de prévention : la chasse est interdite ou fortement restreinte dans plusieurs communes afin d’éviter la contamination des basses‑cours de volailles domestiques et des élevages.

Témoignages locaux

Personnage	Situation	Réaction
Jean‑Claude Viaud (médecin retraité, chasseur à Amailloux)	Chasse habituellement autour d’un étang près de Clessé (zone infectée).	Il ne peut plus chasser « autour de son étang ». Il accepte la restriction tant qu’elle ne touche que < 10 % de son territoire, mais admet que si 50 % de son terrain était concerné, cela deviendrait « gênant ».
Frédéric Audurier (directeur de la Fédération des chasseurs des Deux‑Sèvres)	Responsable de la période de chasse du gibier d’eau.	Il estime que la réglementation est « stigmatisante » parce que la frontière entre zone humide et non‑humide est difficile à déterminer. La chasse du gibier d’eau doit donc se clôturer fin janvier 2026, ce qui « impacte nos activités ». Il rappelle que les oiseaux migrateurs, même hors chasse, peuvent propager la maladie.

Conséquences concrètes

• Période de chasse du gibier d’eau raccourcie : fermeture prévue fin janvier 2026 dans tout le département.
• Chasse aux autres oiseaux (hors gibier d’eau) : reste autorisée dans la plupart des communes (voir illustration de Radio France).

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English summary

• Health background: A third outbreak of H5N1 avian flu has been confirmed in the Deux‑Sèvres department (France),leading to the culling of 12 000 turkeys near Clessé.
• Preventive actions: Hunting is now restricted or prohibited in several municipalities to prevent the virus from reaching backyard poultry and farms.

Local testimonies

Person	Situation	Reaction
Jean‑Claude Viaud (retired doctor, hunter from Amailloux)	Used to hunt around a pond close to the infected area of Clessé.	He can no longer hunt “around his pond”. He accepts the restriction as long as it affects < 10 % of his land, but says that if 50 % were affected it would become "a real problem".
Frédéric Audurier (head of the Deux‑Sèvres hunters’ federation)	Oversees the water‑fowl hunting season.	Calls the rule “a bit stigmatizing” as it is indeed hard to know whether a spot is a wetland. The water‑fowl season will thus close at the end of January 2026, which “impacts our activities”.He adds that migratory birds,even when not chased,can also spread the disease.

Concrete outcomes

• Water‑fowl hunting season shortened: it must end by the end of January 2026 throughout the department.
• Hunting of other feathered game: still allowed in most municipalities (see Radio‑France illustration).

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Points clés à retenir

1. Sécurité sanitaire prime : les restrictions visent à protéger les élevages de volailles domestiques.
2. Impact sur les chasseurs : la zone d’application n’est pas toujours claire, surtout dans les départements avec de nombreux marais.
3. Réactions contrastées : certains chasseurs acceptent les mesures tant qu’elles restent limitées, d’autres les jugent pénalisantes pour leurs activités.
4. Dialog : il est essentiel que les autorités indiquent clairement les limites des zones humides afin d’éviter les malentendus.

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Waterfowl and Wild Bird Hunting Banned in 32 Deux‑Sèvres Communes Amid Avian flu Outbreak

H1: Overview of the Hunting Ban in Deux‑Sèvres

• Effective date: 8 December 2025, 07:10 CET
• Scope: 32 communes across the Deux‑Sèvres department, covering key wetlands such as the Marais de la Braconne, the Vallée du Sèvre, and the Bressuire river basin.
• Reason: Rapid spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 among domestic poultry and wild waterfowl, prompting the French Ministry of Agriculture to enforce emergency disease‑control measures.

H2: Legal Framework & Authority

1. Décret d’urgence issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) under the “Code Rural” article L231‑2.
2. Regional Order signed by the Prefect of Nouvelle‑Aquitaine, authorising temporary suspension of all waterfowl and wild‑bird hunting activities.
3. Compliance period: 30 days, renewable pending epidemiological updates from the Direction Générale de l’Alimentation (DGAL).

H2: Affected Communes & Geographic Hotspots

Commune	Notable Wetland	Primary Hunting Species	Status
Bressuire	Marais de la braconne	Mallard, Teal, Pintail	Ban
Mauléon	Étang de La Vallée	Goldeneye, Merganser	Ban
Thouars	Rivière Thouet	Coot, Moorhen	Ban
Saint‑Maurice‑des‑Fossés	Marais du Gâtinais	Shoveler, Gadwall	Ban
…	…	…	…

(Complete list of 32 communes available on the Prefecture’s official portal.)

H2: Key Drivers Behind the Ban

• High mortality in poultry farms: Over 150 % increase in reported bird deaths in the Vendée‑Deux‑Sèvres corridor as early November 2025.
• Wild‑bird reservoir: Surveillance data show a 70 % positivity rate for H5N1 in captured waterfowl samples from the Marais de la Braconne.
• Human health precaution: Although zoonotic transmission remains low, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends limiting human‑bird interfaces during active outbreaks.

H2: Impact on Hunting Community

• Licensing: Temporary suspension of hunting permits; renewals deferred until the ban lifts.
• Economic losses: Estimated €3.2 million impact on local agritourism, hunting guides, and ancillary services (e.g., equipment rentals).
• Compensation: The French State’s “Plan de soutien aux chasseurs” allocates €1 million for affected clubs, with eligibility criteria detailed in the official decree.

H3: Practical Tips for Hunters During the Ban

1. Stay Informed – Subscribe to alerts from the Regional office of Veterinary Services (OIRV) for real‑time updates.
2. Maintain Equipment – Clean and store firearms in a dry surroundings to avoid rust and ensure readiness when the ban is lifted.
3. Engage in Alternative Activities – Participate in bird‑watching, wetland conservation workshops, and legal hunting simulations offered by local federations.
4. Report Suspicious Mortality – Contact the “Signalement IA” hotline (02 51 XX XX XX) if dead or diseased birds are observed outside designated zones.

H2: Disease‑Control Measures Complementing the Hunting Ban

• Preventive emptying of poultry farms: Authorities have ordered early depopulation of susceptible flocks in the western sector, including parts of vendée and Maine‑et‑Loire (see 2024‑2025 avian‑flu response).
• Bio‑security upgrades: Mandatory disinfection stations at farm entrances, mandatory protective clothing for farm workers, and restricted vehicle access.
• Wild‑bird monitoring: Weekly trapping and PCR testing in 15 sentinel sites across Deux‑Sèvres; data shared with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

H2: case Study – Marais de la Braconne Response

• Timeline:

1. 10 Nov 2025 – First H5N1-positive sample from a wild mallard.
2. 15 Nov 2025 – Local hunting association voluntarily halted waterfowl drives.
3. 20 Nov 2025 – Prefectural decree enacted, covering 12 communes within the marsh.
4. Outcome: Within three weeks, positive cases in wild birds dropped from 70 % to 22 %, demonstrating the combined effect of hunting suspension and farm bio‑security.

H2: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: When will the hunting ban be lifted?

A: The ban remains in force for a minimum of 30 days. Extensions are issued only after a negative trend in avian‑influenza test results for two consecutive weeks.

Q2: Can I still hunt non‑waterfowl species?

A: The decree targets Anatidae (ducks, geese, swans) and charadriiformes (shorebirds). Ground‑based game (e.g., hare, partridge) is not affected, provided hunters respect local containment zones.

Q3: how are compensation claims processed?

A: Submit a claim form to the Departmental Directorate of Agriculture (DDA) within 15 days of the ban’s start. Required documents include a copy of the hunting permit, proof of income loss, and a statement of compliance with bio‑security guidelines.

H2: SEO Keywords Integrated

• avian flu outbreak Deux‑Sèvres 2025
• waterfowl hunting ban France
• wild bird hunting restrictions
• H5N1 emergency measures Nouvelle‑Aquitaine
• French Ministry of Agriculture disease control
• hunting permit suspension Deux‑Sèvres
• wetland conservation avian influenza
• poultry farm emptying protocol 2024‑2025
• EFSA avian flu surveillance France

H2: Related Search Terms (LSI Keywords)

• “avian influenza prevention france”
• “duck hunting regulations 2025”
• “wildlife disease management Europe”
• “COVID‑19 like bird flu response”
• “agricultural bio‑security measures France”
• “hunting compensation scheme French government”

H2: Sources & References

1. French Ministry of Agriculture, “Décret d’urgence – Suspension de la chasse aux oiseaux d’eau” (2025).
2. Direction Générale de l’Alimentation (DGAL), “Surveillance aviaire 2025 – Rapport Hebdomadaire”.
3. European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), “Wild bird surveillance data – H5N1, France, 2025”.
4. GetToText.com, “Avian flu: the State asks to preventively empty poultry farms in the West” (2024).

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Content curated by drpriyadeshmukh, senior content writer – Archyde.com