Snowy Owls found dead with bird flue...

 

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Birds found dead in Toronto Park in December

Two Snowy Owls were found dead at Tommy Thompson Park in Toronto, Ontario, last month, have tested positive for avian influenza, also known as bird flu.   Avian influenza can spread between animals and humans and vice versa and presents a huge risk.   Dead and injured birds found near Toronto should be reported to the Toronto & Region Conservation Authority, or the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative or the Toronto Wildlife Centre.   No one other than members of these agencies mentioned above should touch, feed or handle birds to avoid potential exposure to avian flu.   Rodenticide, a common rat poison used to kill rodents that sometimes ends up in larger animals that eat them, is often under-reported in wildlife deaths because of the precautions around handling birds with avian influenza.   More details can be found in a Toronto Star story of January 18th, on page A2.

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BarrytheBirder