[tn-bird] Raptor mortality crisis in Ohio
- From: Wallace Coffey <jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: 1-A TN-Birds <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2002 06:35:11 -0300
TN-Birders:
The following is a forward posting regarding a terrible crisis effecting
raptors in Ohio. I got thismessage from the Richmond, Virginia
Birding Listserver. Read on......
Let's go birding...
Wallace Coffey
Bristol, TN
--------------------------BEGIN FORWARD----------------------
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
--------------------------END FORWARD------------------------------
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TN-Bird Net Owner: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN
jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx (423) 764-3958
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