"It was positive for bird flu," says Caroline Bröjer, deputy state veterinarian at SVA, the Swedish National Veterinary Institute.
Two eagle owls, an adult and a cub, were found in early April in Stora stöten, where eagle owls have nested for many years.
The cub was too rugged to be retrieved, but the analysis of the adult is now complete.
"It had a lot of virus in its brain," says Caroline Bröjer, who says that the owl may have eaten an infected seabird and thus ingested the virus.
"Birds get very sick"
Although the bird was otherwise in good condition, it did not survive.
"Birds get very sick, especially when they eat infected animals.
Bird flu has previously been found in Dalarna in three birds found in 2021.
SVA has not received any reports of other dead birds, but they are now awaiting delivery of two more birds, a goose and a swan, that have been found dead and will be analyzed.
"If you have domestic poultry, keep an extra eye out so that the infection does not get into domestic chickens," says Caroline Bröjer.