‘Bleeding from the Mouth’: Mysterious Mass Bird Deaths Spark Fear

Residents of Tappahannock, Virginia, are demanding answers after dozens of birds were discovered dead along a bridge over Hopkins Creek this past Saturday. Despite an initial investigation by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR), the cause of the mass die-off remains a mystery.

The gruesome sight stunned locals. “Man, there’s dead birds out here everywhere,” said eyewitness Wayne Veney, who filmed the aftermath early that morning. “These jokers are bleeding from the mouth.” Veney told reporters the incident has shaken the small town. “Some folks are afraid to let their pets even go out. We just want to make sure everybody’s safe — people, animals, everything. We can’t start 2026 like this.”

Officials from DWR confirmed Monday that a full necropsy — the animal equivalent of a human autopsy — will be performed by the National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wisconsin. The results could take until the middle of next week. Investigators say no similar reports have surfaced in the surrounding area.

While speculation runs wild online — ranging from pesticide poisoning to viral outbreaks — experts are urging calm. “Mass bird deaths can be caused by a range of factors,” explained Dr. Elise Harper, a wildlife toxicologist based in Richmond. “Sometimes it’s a disease outbreak like avian flu, sometimes weather-related stress, or even collisions with vehicles or power lines.”

Locals, however, are uneasy. Tappahannock, a quiet riverside town of just over 2,000 people, has never seen anything like this before. Photos circulating on social media show dozens of lifeless birds sprawled across the bridge, their feathers scattered by passing traffic.

For now, DWR is advising residents not to touch or move the carcasses and to report any similar sightings. “We’re waiting on test results,” said a DWR spokesperson. “Until then, we ask everyone to avoid contact and let investigators do their work.”

The unsettling scene has left the community rattled — and waiting for answers from scientists who hope to explain what went so wrong above Hopkins Creek.

Source: WRIC 8News Richmond