FreeLists / va-richmond-general / [va-richmond-general] Crisis in Ohio -- Raptor Mortality -- WNV implicated

[Larry R Lynch <birder6@xxxxxxxx>]

Richmonders....

Here is an alert from Ohio about a wildlife crisis that could be related
to West
Nile Virus.  I have not heard of it spreading to our Virginia rehab
centers as it 
has in Ohio.  What a tragedy!       Larry Lynch,  birder6@xxxxxxxx

---------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Ohio Raptor mortality . . . WNV implicated
 
>>From: "Mona Rutger" 
>>Subject: Back To The Wild update on wildlife crisis . . .
>>Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2002 00:56:46 -0700
>>
>>Dear Friends:
>>
>>I wanted to make you all aware of what is happening at Back To The 
>>Wild.  This is an update on a wildlife crisis in Ohio that has hit 
>>rehabilitation centers and zoos hard!  It is statewide.  In just two 
>>weeks, almost every center in Ohio has experienced unheard of
admissions 
>>of Great Horned Owls daily from the wild; [plus] Red-tails, Coopers and
other 
>>raptor species.  Most are Great Horneds - and most all have head
tremors 
>>and some with paralysis of the legs.  Many are dying quickly, within 48

>>hours, though a few seem to be recovering.  Most are found standing or 
>>laying on the ground, unaware of their surroundings and allow you to
just 
>>pick them up.  Today, I received eight more affected Great Horned Owls,

>>two Red-tails and yet another call just now about another Great 
>>Horned!  It is unbelievable.  How many birds are down out there that 
>>aren't being found? There are 18 sick birds here and I have begun 
>>euthanizing several.  A few are recovering and then will be immune for
the 
>>rest of their life to West Nile.
>>
>>Worse yet, most centers have lost Education Birds that have been at our

>>centers for 10 or more years.  They die overnight, without 
>>warning.  Rehabbers are devastated.  I have lost four caged birds here,

>>and fear for the Bald Eagles and other raptors at our center.  Sue has 
>>lost her program Snowy Owl and Merlin and most centers have lost
Barreds, 
>>Great Horneds, Red-tails and Kestrels.  I have heard several Falconers 
>>have lost Gyrfalcons.  We cannot protect our birds, as we don't have 
>>results back yet, and we can't move them to safer quarters, because
doing 
>>so would cause major stress and weaken their immune systems.  We are
all 
>>suspecting West Nile.  Bringing them into our centers means that 
>>mosquitoes feeding on them can fly about the program cages and infect 
>>those birds.  This is a great health risk and even euthanizing any 
>>incoming birds doesn't protect our Education Birds, because they are 
>>coming from every county in Ohio and if it is West Nile, that means the

>>mosquitoes are out there anyway.  We know we can't save all these
incoming 
>>birds and shouldn't, but we do have to protect our permanent residents
at 
>>our centers.  Next year, the weaker ones should be eliminated from the 
>>environment and those that survived will be a perfect example of
nature's 
>>efficient system of "natural selection".
>>
>>My veterinarian was here until 11:30 p.m. collecting blood and tissue 
>>samples and we packaged entire birds on ice to be sent to the Ohio
Dept. 
>>of Health and the National Health Animal Diagnostic Lab in Madison, 
>>WI.   
       
One center sent in two Great Horned Owls and one Red-tail and all 
>>three tested positive for West Nile.  

The advice from Federal and State 
>>agencies is to put mosquito netting over all our cages!  Absolutely 
>>impossible!  Some of the cages are over 60 to 100 feet long and 16 feet

>>high.  How can you mosquito proof that?!  Humans will not get the West 
>>Nile virus from contact with an infected bird in their area, but must
be 
>>bitten by a mosquito who has bitten an infected bird.  However, lab 
>>technicians have contracted West Nile from the blood of infected birds,

>>that came in contact with cuts on their hands.   News Channel 13 called

>>and some newspapers who will create a public panic if they don't handle

>>this right.  Very few humans get sick from exposure to West Nile - 
>>flu-like symptoms and then it is over.  Individuals with weakened
immune 
>>systems, however, are at risk.
>>
>>Well, I really wanted to let some of you who would have interest in
this 
>>and are involved with Back To The Wild, to know what's going on before
you 
>>read about it in the paper, etc.  We are running on nerves and little
rest 
>>and a great support system networking with our fellow rehabbers and 
>>veterinarians.  Marianne Socha, DVM in Huron, once again has donated
her 
>>time and energy to help us through this.  We are truly indebted to 
>>her.  

Take care.  

Bill and Mona Rutger
Castalia, Ohio

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