Fish and Wildlife sets up dead bird hotline
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_082306WABdeadbird_hotlineSW.2b11ed00.html
[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]KING5.com Staff and Associated Press[/SIZE]
WDFW
Recently deceased shorebirds and waterfowl, such as ducks, geese and swans, are the birds most likely to be tested for avian flu.
OLYMPIA, Wash. - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking people who see dead wild birds to report their observations on a new, toll-free telephone line. Most dead bird reports can be submitted by calling 1-800-606-8768.
The exceptions are dead crows, ravens, magpies and jays. These birds should be reported to local city or county health departments because they are tracking those species for potential West Nile virus cases.
The new report line is part of the state's effort to watch for avian flu.
?Since avian influenza has been found elsewhere in waterfowl and shorebird species, those are the birds we will follow most closely,? said Dr. Kristin Mansfield, WDFW veterinarian. ?On the other hand, a bird that died because it flew into a window or was hit by a car would not warrant disease testing.?
Callers to the WDFW reporting line will be asked to leave their name, telephone number, the date and time of the call, the number of dead birds they are reporting, the specific location of the birds and, if known, the species of bird and approximately how long the birds have been dead.
Reports will be reviewed by wildlife experts, who will respond as needed. Recently deceased shorebirds and waterfowl, such as ducks, geese and swans are the birds most likely to be tested for avian flu.
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_082306WABdeadbird_hotlineSW.2b11ed00.html
[SIZE=-1]02:20 PM PDT on Wednesday, August 23, 2006[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]KING5.com Staff and Associated Press[/SIZE]
Recently deceased shorebirds and waterfowl, such as ducks, geese and swans, are the birds most likely to be tested for avian flu.
OLYMPIA, Wash. - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking people who see dead wild birds to report their observations on a new, toll-free telephone line. Most dead bird reports can be submitted by calling 1-800-606-8768.
The exceptions are dead crows, ravens, magpies and jays. These birds should be reported to local city or county health departments because they are tracking those species for potential West Nile virus cases.
The new report line is part of the state's effort to watch for avian flu.
?Since avian influenza has been found elsewhere in waterfowl and shorebird species, those are the birds we will follow most closely,? said Dr. Kristin Mansfield, WDFW veterinarian. ?On the other hand, a bird that died because it flew into a window or was hit by a car would not warrant disease testing.?
Callers to the WDFW reporting line will be asked to leave their name, telephone number, the date and time of the call, the number of dead birds they are reporting, the specific location of the birds and, if known, the species of bird and approximately how long the birds have been dead.
Reports will be reviewed by wildlife experts, who will respond as needed. Recently deceased shorebirds and waterfowl, such as ducks, geese and swans are the birds most likely to be tested for avian flu.
