TAUNTON, Mass. (WPRI) — Preliminary results of testing done on the dead geese found near Lake Sabbatia in Taunton last month have come back positive for the bird flu (HPAI), according to the Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife.

The division said preliminary results also show that three snowy owls have tested positive for HPAI.

12 News reported last month that two snowy owls were found dead within a week of each other — one in Rhode Island and the other in Massachusetts.

Officials were unable to test the owl spotted in Westerly, as its body couldn't be retrieved. The other bird, found on Duxbury Beach, was one of the three snowy owls that tested positive for the virus in the Bay State.

The division noted that it can take days for initial test results to come back and several months for confirmatory testing.

"Evidence suggests that HPAI is widespread in Massachusetts and is likely present even in places where there has not been a confirmed positive," MassWildlife explained in an email to 12 News on Friday. "However, reported cases of HPAI are currently trending down across the state."

If you find five or more sick or dead birds or a singular dead snowy owl, bald eagle or peregrine falcon in Massachusetts, report your observations here. You should report sick or dead domesticated birds by calling (617) 626-1795.

If you see a sick or dead wild bird in Rhode Island, you should report it here. You should report sick or dead domesticated birds here.