Conference misery::feline_v1

1386.0. "Salmonella poisoning is killing wild birds" by TOPDOC::TRACHMAN () Thu May 19 1988 11:40

    I have decided to put this bit of information in a separate note
    and not add it to 1385 because I think it could be a serious
    situation.  I don't want to cause panic, but I have to say that
    I was and still am very concerned. Please keep a close eye on
    your yards and pets and kids.
     
    The following are paragraphs are from a Globe article dated May
    May 1st (reprinted partially without permission).
    A friend called me with this news 10 minutes after I had hung my
    third feeder on the porch and after I had filled the other two
    that were already there!  (Kitty TV, ya know!)
    
    Salmonella poisoning is killing wild birds.
    
    Poultney, Vt.  Wild songbirds across a large section of the Northeast
    have died in recent months from salmonella poisoning from contaminated
    bird food.
    
    In severla locations, veterinarians have treated cats that have
    also been infected after eating contaminated birdsj, and officals
    have expressed concern that the disease could spread to other
    mammals, including squirrels and chipmunks.
    
    Veterinarians, environmentalists, and the National Health Research
    Center have called for a cessation in feeding wild birst for the
    remainder of the spring and summer throughout New England and New
    York.
    
    "At least, people should empty their bird feeders, disinfect them
    and stop feeding for 10 days.  It's a good idea to stop for the
    season," said Dr. Ward Stone, a wildlife pathologist for the New
    York Deparatment of Environmental Conservation in Delmar.  
    
    Scientists believe the disease is being spread through contaminated
    seed.  The seed is NOT comtaminated when purchased, but sick birds
    spread the disease when they defacate around feeders and nearby
    grounds.  Other birds pick up the disease and carry it to new feeders.
    Although this bacterium has been found in wild birds before, scientists
    have never seen so many birds affaected nor so many bird deaths.
    So far, at least nine species of birds have been affected throughout
    the Northeast from southern Maine to upstate New York, with
    concentrated reports of dead birds, in Hillsboro, NH, Poultney and
    Woodstock VT, Hampton and Granville, NY on the Vermont border, and
    in Columbia and Rensellaer counties NY, on the Mass. border.
    Pine siskins, tiny, sparrow-like songbirds, have been hardest hit.
    Also affeacted are black-capped chickadees, house sparrows, evening
    grosbeaks, common redpolls, American goldfinches, cardinals, cowbirds,
    and boat-tailed grackles.
    
    The strain of salmonella killing birds has not been known to affect
    humans, but it is theoretically possible that infection could occur.
    Vet have received several calls from people reporting symptoms of
    salmonella poisoning that they thought might have been caused by
    handling sick birds or pets.
    
    Symptoms in CATS include high fevers, as high as 104 degrees as
    compared to a normal temperature of 101 - diarrhea and loss of 
    appetite. In wild birds, the most common sympton is letharagy. 
    The birds ten to stay around the bird feeders with their heads 
    tucked under their wings and the feathers ruffled.
    
    It's a good idea to stop feeding.  The ground is clear of snow and
    there's lots of forage for wild brids.  You're not doing the birds
    any favor in continuing to feed them.  People may even be killing
    the birds they love. We should stop feeding on a regional basis
    for the summer if we're going to catch this before entire bird
    populations are affected.  (Veterinarian Scott Machachlan)
    
    The institute made the following recommendations:
    
    o Discontinue feeding for 10 days or more; clean feeders with bleach
      and rinse will.
    o Clean up seed on the ground and dispose of it, since seeds tend
      to harbor bacteria.
    o Use rubber gloves or wash hands after handling seeds or dead birds.
    o Keep pets and children away from affected birds.
    o Report incidents to Nancy Reed, Raptor Center director, Vermont
      Insitute of Natural Science, Woodstock, VT. 05091
    
    
    
    

This is a very good reason to AT LEAST bell you cat so no bird can fall
victim...however, if the ground around bird feeders is considered
contamination area, if your cat is there, it can pick up the disease
by walking through contamination and then taking a kitty bath.  Please
be careful with this, the symptoms sound serious enough to kill your
cats....If you know of neighbors with bird feeders, you might spread
the word and keep your cat in for a few weeks to avoid possible
infection.

    Good idea - I wonder if the bird is already sick, will he be
    able to run or fly away when he hears the bell? Gee, if it's
    not one danger, it's another!  Not only should we worry about
    cats and dogs, but it's the little kids playing in the yards
    who find a little birdie, bring it home to mom, and say, 
    "See what I found mommie?"  When my daughter was little,
    she would bring home & in anything that was breathing and
    that she could catch!  I drew the line at snakes - those
    she knew couldn't come in, but I had to go outside and look at
    them.  yuk!

    Wow,  I don't know if it could be related or not, but I
    just said to my husband last week that I had been noticing
    an awful lot of dead birds along the roads.  You don't
    usually see dead birds along the roads, at least I don't,
    but I've seen probably 1-2 dozen over the past 2-3 months.
    
    Donna

    Donna, maybe you should call the phone number in the article
    and report them - tell the person what area you have been
    seeing the dead birds.  I'm sure they would be interested.
    
    E.T.