Hundreds of snow geese expected to have been killed by avian flu in Saskatchewan

Jen Gibson is a self-proclaimed chicken geek who at all times seems to be ahead to seeing snow geese within the spring.

However this 12 months when the birds handed by her property close to Grand Coulee, about 20 km west of Regina, she observed that one thing was incorrect.

“I’ve by no means seen this variety of useless birds,” stated Gibson, who’s lived within the space for nearly 15 years. 

It is not an remoted drawback. In Saskatchewan and throughout the nation snow geese have been hit laborious by an avian flu that’s killing them.

Since early December a extremely contagious type of avian flu has been ravaging migrating birds in Canada, stated Iga Stasiak, a wildlife well being specialist with the Authorities of Saskatchewan. 

“That is the primary outbreak in Saskatchewan since 2017,” Stasiak stated, including this explicit pressure of avian flu, H5N1, has been very aggressive. “It has precipitated extra important mortality, and we have seen a wider breadth of species impacted than we’ve got with earlier strains. 

Chicken stories

“Since late March the province has obtained over 300 stories of sick birds or mortality,” she stated, including there are 100 presumptive constructive instances awaiting affirmation.

The birds normally die inside per week of getting contaminated. Avian flu is mostly related to a respiratory virus, however this pressure is “affecting a number of organ techniques, together with the liver, the kidneys, the pancreas and the nervous system, together with the mind,” Stasiak stated. They’ve famous neurological signs within the birds, together with tremors and jerking actions. 

Nearly all of instances have been concentrated within the south-central zone of the province, with the majority of the contaminated birds being present in communities, corresponding to Grand Coulee, alongside the TransCanada between Regina to Moose Jaw.

“In that area, the birds are stopping over alongside their migration routes and that is the place you are seeing the very giant flocks of birds.” Some sick birds have been reported as far north as Niapwin, 360 km north of Regina, Stasiak stated.

Snow geese migrate yearly from Texas they usually “cross by the southern United States after which they fly up all the best way up into the Arctic to their nesting grounds,” making the an infection charge widespread.

Stasiak stated most of the snow geese have made it to the north now and persons are in all probability seeing useless birds as a result of the snow has melted.

That is when Gibson actually began to note the issue.

She stated the migratory season began identical to every other 12 months. “They settled within the subject and every thing appeared fantastic. After which once they left and the snow began to soften, it grew to become clear that there was some that did not make it. I might say a minimum of a dozen, if no more.” 

Fields of birds

At first she thought the deaths have been as a consequence of in-flight collisions, however after some analysis she found they’d almost certainly died from avian flu.

“I was heartbroken to see them so affected by avian flu,” Gibson stated.

Her property wasn’t the one one with useless birds dotting the fields. It was clear the difficulty was widespread by the group.

“You would see them off the freeway,” she stated. “You would see them round Grand Coulee. After which, , as soon as they left, you may see that there have been some that did not make it.”

Stasiak stated the avian flu was first detected on the East Coast and is believed to have unfold throughout the Atlantic seaboard into the Midwestern states after which north with the birds within the spring migration. This has meant widespread an infection throughout the prairies and west to British Columbia.

“We’re seeing comparable stories of mortality throughout the nation,” she stated.

Snow geese are an considerable species and “it nonetheless appears to be a comparatively low proportion of the inhabitants that is been impacted,” Stasiak stated.

Spreading to different species

Initially, Stasiak’s stories confirmed the virus was solely impacting snow geese and Ross’s geese, however it has unfold to different species. 

“We’re additionally getting fairly a number of stories in raptor species. So hawks, eagles, nice horned owls, additionally scavenging birds, so crows, ravens and magpies.”  She suspects these birds are doubtless feeding on contaminated waterfowl carcasses and getting contaminated.

Whereas no instances have been reported of scavenger mammals being contaminated with the virus but in Saskatchewan, Stasiak urged property homeowners to take away any useless birds that may very well be consumed by household pets.

She really helpful sporting a masks and gloves and “utilizing a plastic bag to select up the chicken, double bag it and dispose of it.” 

One useless chicken can go in family waste, but when there are extra they should go to an authorised landfill, Stasiak stated.

However as a rule Stasiak really helpful leaving the birds the place they’re and letting them decompose naturally.

Monitoring diseased birds

Stasiak stated they’re counting on members of the general public to report any birds which might be exhibiting uncommon behaviour or that seem like sick. Whereas they can not assist contaminated birds the division desires to know the place they’re as a result of “this will likely be important in understanding the extent of the virus and its impacts.”

They’re additionally making an attempt to be taught “if there are birds on the market which might be carriers or not exhibiting any scientific signs.” 

Sick and useless chicken sightings might be made by the provincial inquiry line, the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, a Wildlife Well being Tracker app, or by calling the wildlife emergency hotline on 1-800-567-2033.