BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - State and federal wildlife officials will test 1,400 ducks and other waterfowl for avian influenza this fall as part of a nationwide monitoring program for the virus.     

The effort will include tests on birds shot by hunters and trapped by researchers, even ducks at Montana State University's duck pond in Bozeman. Work at the university will begin in late August and continue intermittently through November.

Although more than 140 different avian influenza viruses are commonly found in wild bird populations, wildlife officials say the highly pathogenic Asian strain has not been detected in any wild bird in North America.

According to the Audobon web site, in 2005, a low pathogenic form of H5N1, which is not thought to pose a danger to poultry or humans, was found in wild ducks in Canada. In August 2006, two Mute Swans with the same low form were found in Michigan.