Investigation uncovers what’s been killing the crows in Charlottetown’s Victoria Park
CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — An investigation has decided that the avian reovirus is accountable for killing a whole lot of crows in Charlottetown’s Victoria Park.
Dr. Laura Bourque, a wildlife pathologist on the Atlantic Veterinary School (AVC) in Charlottetown, stated March 3 that necropsies have been going down since folks began bringing luggage of useless crows in by the handfuls over the Christmas holidays.
“At this level, we’re 99 per cent sure that it’s reovirus that’s inflicting this winter mortality,” stated Bourque, who can be a member of the Canadian Wildlife Well being Co-operative. “On the higher preserved (crows), we noticed very repeatable indicators of illness within the gastrointestinal tract, that are fairly typical of a virus that may trigger this mass mortality in crows throughout the winter.”
In an interview with SaltWire Community on March 3, Bourque added that is the primary time the AVC has ever recorded such a big mass mortality of crows in Victoria Park and downtown Charlottetown.
“I’m not going to rule out occasional instances of reovirus being recorded by our pathologists,” she stated. “You all the time discover a couple of useless crows throughout the winter – that’s undoubtedly common – however definitely this massive quantity was fairly stunning to folks and understandably so. This very giant mortality occasion is comparatively uncommon for our space.”
Victoria Park has usually been known as crow central by folks as a whole lot of crows are likely to fly into the world throughout the afternoon and night hours.
Bourque added that persons are reporting seeing fewer crows than normal within the park.
Brian McInnis, a contract photographer who lives on Brighton Highway close to the park and takes photos of crows usually, stated he’s seen a change round his yard feeders.
“There will not be as many crows roosting within the park this 12 months, however I believe that is because of them shifting to different elements of town,” McInnis stated in an interview March 3. “The winter started with the same old variety of crows, however in the previous couple of months I’ve (seen) they’ve moved to different elements of town.”
Bourque stated McInnis might be proper.
“I consider there are fewer crows within the downtown,” Bourque stated. “I’ve had fairly a couple of folks point out that to me. Now, whether or not that’s as a result of this illness has merely killed them or they noticed there are a number of useless crows of their space and left. We all know that crows are very clever and are greater than able to reaching these conclusions.”
Bourque stated, like all contagious illness, the reovirus tends to unfold shortly in densely populated areas, equivalent to downtown Charlottetown and Victoria Park.
The wildlife pathologist stated the virus will merely need to run its course, including that because the climate warms up the birds will develop some immunity to it and the inhabitants will get better.
Bourque stated reovirus doesn’t pose a threat to the general public.
Bald eagle
The Atlantic Veterinary School has been collaborating with provincial wildlife officers and the Canadian Meals Inspection Company (CFIA) on the loss of life of a bald eagle on the north shore just lately.
The province has confirmed the eagle died of avian influenza.
“We’ve been holding a fairly shut eye in wildlife mortality and we’ve been testing all the useless birds submitted to us for avian influenza virus and that’s how we have been in a position to detect this virus on this bald eagle,” Bourque stated.
The wildlife pathologist stated the virus can be current in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and alongside the northeastern seaboard in america.
She stated the bald eagle probably contracted the virus by consuming waterfowl, particularly geese.
“They’ll carry it and never get sick, which is why they’re so good at spreading it,” Bourque stated. “Geese, predominantly, are the primary offender. We all know that scavenging birds, eagles, can get it that approach so that might very effectively be how he contracted it.”
Bourque stated avian influenza virus is zoonotic, that means folks can contract it from birds.
Must know
Following is details about crows in Victoria Park and what the general public ought to take into account if anybody discovers a useless or sick crow:
- Charlottetown’s Victoria Park is well-known for its crow inhabitants, with greater than 25,000 particular person birds roosting within the park every night time.
- Throughout the Christmas holidays, Fish and Wildlife P.E.I. collected samples of useless birds, which have been taken to the Atlantic Veterinary School in Charlottetown for examination and necropsies.
- Dozens of carcasses have been additionally taken to the AVC by involved residents.
- Anybody who sees a useless crow in Victoria Park or in downtown Charlottetown is requested to name the Metropolis of Charlottetown at 902-566-5548 for correct disposal.
- If folks discover sick or useless wild birds, they’ll additionally name P.E.I. fish and wildlife officers to allow them to come, assess the scenario and both euthanize the hen or accumulate the carcass.
- If anybody spots a crow that seems to be in misery, name the AVC at 902-566-0980.
Dave Stewart is a municipal reporter with the SaltWire Community in Prince Edward Island.
