Chicken flu kills 3 California Condors; extra circumstances pending

Extremely Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed as the reason for mortality for 3 California Condors present in northern Arizona, in keeping with wildlife officers. The Arizona-Utah inhabitants strikes all through northern Arizona and southern Utah, utilizing the panorama inside Grand Canyon Nationwide Park, Zion Nationwide Park, Vermillion Cliffs Nationwide Monument, the Kaibab Plateau, and surrounding areas. Up to now, the virus has not been detected within the different condor populations in California or Baja California, Mexico.

On March 9, The Peregrine Fund, which manages the Arizona-Utah condor flock, first noticed a hen within the wild exhibiting indicators of sickness, initially suspected to be lead poisoning. Crews continued to observe this hen and others exhibiting related conduct. On March 20, they collected the deceased feminine beneath her nest, which was the primary hen confirmed optimistic with HPAI.

Upon assortment, the hen was despatched to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Clark R. Bavin Nationwide Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory for necropsy to find out the reason for demise. Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Lab analyzed samples, and preliminary outcomes indicated the hen examined optimistic for HPAI subtype H5N1. The optimistic consequence was confirmed by the U.S. Division of Agriculture’s Nationwide Veterinary Service Laboratory on March 30.

As of April 4, a complete of three deceased birds have been retrieved and confirmed as HPAI optimistic. Check outcomes are usually not but last for 5 further deceased birds. Others have been collected and are pending necropsy and testing; data will likely be supplied as soon as check outcomes can be found.

Moreover, 5 birds displaying indicators of sickness had been captured by The Peregrine Fund and despatched to Liberty Wildlife in Phoenix for care. One of the birds died shortly after arrival. The remaining 4 are in quarantine whereas samples are examined for HPAI. Any further stay or deceased condors collected in Arizona and Utah will likely be handled as HPAI suspected circumstances. Stay birds will likely be transferred to applicable amenities to obtain care.

As of December 31, 2022, the condor’s world inhabitants was 561 birds. The free-flying wild inhabitants stood at 347. The Arizona-Utah inhabitants numbered 116 people — the best of any area.

Condors face a number of stressors

California Condor populations face a number of stressors, corresponding to publicity to steer shot and habitat degradation, which have lowered the resiliency of the inhabitants. To deal with the unfolding risk of HPAI, coordination is ongoing with avian influenza specialists, veterinarians, and Tribal, state, and federal companions throughout the condor’s vary. California Condor restoration companions are mobilizing assets and taking preemptive steps to guard wild birds from HPAI. Throughout the condor’s vary, every day actions proceed, corresponding to captive breeding and the monitoring of breeding and nesting websites.

Potential publicity of HPAI is predicted to rise in the course of the spring migration of birds north to their breeding grounds. HPAI has been detected in all U.S. states, besides Hawai’i, in wild and home animals.

HPAI is taken into account low danger as a human well being concern, in keeping with the Facilities for Illness Management; nevertheless, infections in people have been reported. HPAI is extremely contagious in wildlife and may unfold rapidly by a number of routes, together with bird-to-bird contact, environmental contamination with fecal materials, and through uncovered clothes, footwear, and automobiles. To guard individuals and birds, you will need to take precautions to forestall unfold of the virus.

Methods to assist

Should you see a condor exhibiting any of the next indicators of sickness in Arizona or Utah, please contact The Peregrine Fund at 585-747-5885. Indicators embody lethargy, incoordination, presenting as boring or unresponsive, holding head in an uncommon place, and strolling in circles.
Please observe the beneath steering to assist restrict the unfold of the virus and keep away from bird-human contact:
- To report useless or sick animals, please contact your state wildlife company.
- Preserve your loved ones, together with pets, a protected distance away from wildlife.
- Don’t feed, deal with, or method sick or useless animals or their droppings.
- All the time wash your arms after working or taking part in exterior.
- Forestall contact of home or captive birds with wild birds.
- Go away younger animals alone. Typically, the mother or father animals are shut by and can return for his or her younger. For steering on orphaned or injured wild birds, please contact your nearest wildlife rehabilitation middle, state wildlife company, or native land administration company.
- USDA additionally has biosecurity steering for individuals who hold yard poultry.