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Officials give tips on dealing with dead birds
http://www.wabashplaindealer.com/articles/2006/05/20/local_news/local1.txt
By SHEILA RHOADES
Friday, May 19, 2006 10:34 PM EDT
With West Nile virus and now the threat of a global bird flu, the Wabash County Health Department has released some instruction on what to do if you find a dead bird.
Wild birds die for a variety of reasons, but most wild bird deaths have no impact on human health. A natural death is considered to be the death of a bird due to a naturally short life span, severe weather, predators and competition between species.
An accidental death could be an impact with power lines, or colliding into aircraft, windows or buildings.
Death can also be caused by either legal or illegal pest control, accidental pesticide exposure, environmental contamination from chemical or other spills, leaks or releases.
Spoiled grain crop residues are a primary food source for many wild birds. But bacteria, fungi and molds can grow on crop residues left in the field and some of the organisms can cause death.
Dirty bird feeders can also be to blame for some wild bird deaths. The same organisms found in spoiled crop residues can also be found in backyard bird feeders if not kept clean.
Most wild bird diseases present no threat to human health. However, there are two wild bird-related diseases Hoosiers are most worried about... West Nile virus and the avian flu.
Wild birds serve as an amplifying host for West Nile virus. Mosquitoes become infected by feeding on infected birds and then biting humans.
Wild birds are also killed by the West Nile virus. Blue jays, robins, cardinals, crows and raptors - falcons, hawks and owls - are highly sensitive to the virus, making them the best indicators of West Nile virus activity in a community.
They are the only species of birds that the Indiana State Department of Health laboratory is testing for the virus.
If you find one of these birds during mosquito season (May-October) call the health department at 563-0661 ext. 251, and ask if they would pick up the bird and send it to the state lab.
The avian flu or bird flu is a disease that concerns many people. This form of flu occurs in North America naturally in a form that does not infect humans. the disease that has affected humans in other countries is not currently found here.
In the worldwide wild bird population, the avian flu is most often found in water birds, such as geese, ducks and swans, and shorebirds such as sandpiper-type birds.
To date there are no documented cases of the disease ever being transmitted to humans from wild birds.
Wild, migrating birds may provide one possible route of entry for the avian flu into North America. If the disease is spread by wild birds, the first evidence of it in North America would be expected to be found in Alaska, due to its proximity to the natural Asian wild bird migration paths.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has joined forces with USDA APHIS Wildlife Services in a state/federal partnership to initiate a pro-active wild water fowl surveillance program. This will establish an early warning system for any evidence of the virus in our migratory waterfowl.
Wildlife biologists from the DNR and Wildlife Services will be handling all sampling and monitoring activities for the avian flu in Indiana. Since resident geese and ducks do not migrate a significant distance, those waterfowl are not at risk for initial exposure to the virus and are not a priority in the surveillance program.
If you find dead migratory geese, ducks, swans or shore birds, do not pick up the birds for testing. Call the Wildlife Conflicts information hotline, 800-893-4116 to report the location and number of dead waterfowl.
The DNR and Wildlife Services professional staff will determine if testing is necessary.
Dead wild birds should not be handled with bare hands. If necessary to dispose of a dead bird, use gloves or a plastic bag turned inside out over your hand to pick up the bird. Double bag it and either bury it or dispose of it in the trash.
For more information call the Wabash County Health Department, 563-0661 ext. 251.
http://www.wabashplaindealer.com/articles/2006/05/20/local_news/local1.txt
By SHEILA RHOADES
Friday, May 19, 2006 10:34 PM EDT
With West Nile virus and now the threat of a global bird flu, the Wabash County Health Department has released some instruction on what to do if you find a dead bird.
Wild birds die for a variety of reasons, but most wild bird deaths have no impact on human health. A natural death is considered to be the death of a bird due to a naturally short life span, severe weather, predators and competition between species.
An accidental death could be an impact with power lines, or colliding into aircraft, windows or buildings.
Death can also be caused by either legal or illegal pest control, accidental pesticide exposure, environmental contamination from chemical or other spills, leaks or releases.
Spoiled grain crop residues are a primary food source for many wild birds. But bacteria, fungi and molds can grow on crop residues left in the field and some of the organisms can cause death.
Dirty bird feeders can also be to blame for some wild bird deaths. The same organisms found in spoiled crop residues can also be found in backyard bird feeders if not kept clean.
Most wild bird diseases present no threat to human health. However, there are two wild bird-related diseases Hoosiers are most worried about... West Nile virus and the avian flu.
Wild birds serve as an amplifying host for West Nile virus. Mosquitoes become infected by feeding on infected birds and then biting humans.
Wild birds are also killed by the West Nile virus. Blue jays, robins, cardinals, crows and raptors - falcons, hawks and owls - are highly sensitive to the virus, making them the best indicators of West Nile virus activity in a community.
They are the only species of birds that the Indiana State Department of Health laboratory is testing for the virus.
If you find one of these birds during mosquito season (May-October) call the health department at 563-0661 ext. 251, and ask if they would pick up the bird and send it to the state lab.
The avian flu or bird flu is a disease that concerns many people. This form of flu occurs in North America naturally in a form that does not infect humans. the disease that has affected humans in other countries is not currently found here.
In the worldwide wild bird population, the avian flu is most often found in water birds, such as geese, ducks and swans, and shorebirds such as sandpiper-type birds.
To date there are no documented cases of the disease ever being transmitted to humans from wild birds.
Wild, migrating birds may provide one possible route of entry for the avian flu into North America. If the disease is spread by wild birds, the first evidence of it in North America would be expected to be found in Alaska, due to its proximity to the natural Asian wild bird migration paths.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has joined forces with USDA APHIS Wildlife Services in a state/federal partnership to initiate a pro-active wild water fowl surveillance program. This will establish an early warning system for any evidence of the virus in our migratory waterfowl.
Wildlife biologists from the DNR and Wildlife Services will be handling all sampling and monitoring activities for the avian flu in Indiana. Since resident geese and ducks do not migrate a significant distance, those waterfowl are not at risk for initial exposure to the virus and are not a priority in the surveillance program.
If you find dead migratory geese, ducks, swans or shore birds, do not pick up the birds for testing. Call the Wildlife Conflicts information hotline, 800-893-4116 to report the location and number of dead waterfowl.
The DNR and Wildlife Services professional staff will determine if testing is necessary.
Dead wild birds should not be handled with bare hands. If necessary to dispose of a dead bird, use gloves or a plastic bag turned inside out over your hand to pick up the bird. Double bag it and either bury it or dispose of it in the trash.
For more information call the Wabash County Health Department, 563-0661 ext. 251.