Dead Deer Found in Some West Central Texas Counties in Recent Weeks
AgNews
13 Sept 2006
With deer season just around the corner, deer experts are concerned about reports of an unusually high number of dead deer in several West Central Texas counties. Dr. Dale Rollins, Texas Cooperative Extension wildlife specialist at San Angelo, said most of the calls he has received are from Schleicher County landowners who have found dead deer at water sources.
The affected region encompasses an area roughly from Eden to Ozona to Sterling City, said Dr. Don Davis, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station veterinary pathobiologist. "While some level of deer mortality is not newsworthy, it looks like we have a hotspot developing for epizootic hemorrhagic disease," Rollins said.
"Epizootic hemorrhagic disease is a viral disease very similar to bluetongue in sheep and cattle, but EHD tends to be most common in white-tailed deer. "When you see an abnormal number of dead deer in August and September, and the mortalities are near water holes, epizootic hemorrhagic disease is often the culprit."
Queens Health Officials Feeding Rabies Vaccine to Raccoons
New York Associated Press (Posted by Newsday.com)
12 Sept 2006
Health officials are feeding rabies vaccine to raccoons to keep them from getting the disease, which can be fatal to people they bite. Bits of fishmeal with the vaccine will be dropped in parts of eastern Queens between Wednesday and Sept. 22.
The rabies control program is in response to a growing number of rabid raccoons found in Nassau County, which borders Queens, over the last two years, the city health department said Tuesday. Three rabid raccoons have been found in Queens in that time.
Rabies, a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system of mammals, is spread through the saliva of infected animals. It is characterized by convulsions and choking and is usually fatal in humans if not treated promptly.
West Nile Virus Mosquito Found in County
Sussex Sun
13 Sept 2006
On Aug. 30, the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation reported one West Nile virus-positive mosquito pool identified in Waukesha County. The mosquito trap was in the City of Waukesha, and the pool was trapped Aug. 24.
The Waukesha County Department of Parks and Land Use, Division of Environmental Health, has monitored mosquito traps since 2003 to contribute to national and state West Nile virus research. Waukesha County also maps reports of sick or dead crows, ravens and blue jays in Waukesha County and posts information on its Web site, www.waukeshacounty.gov/eh.
To report a sick or dead crow, raven or blue jay in Waukesha County, call the USDA Wildlife Service dead bird hotline at (800) 433-1610. The virus is spread by the bite of a West Nile virus-infected mosquito. Mosquitoes get infected with West Nile virus by feeding on infected birds.
WDFW Establishes Toll-free line for Reporting Dead Wild Birds
Chinook Observer
13 Sept 2006
People who see dead wild birds can report their observations on a new, toll-free telephone line established by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
Most dead bird reports can be submitted by calling WDFW's toll-free line at 800-606-8768. The exceptions are dead crows, ravens, magpies and jays, which should be reported to local city or county health departments that are tracking those species for potential West Nile virus cases.
Callers to the WDFW reporting line will be asked to leave their name, telephone number, the date and time of the call, the number of dead birds they are reporting, the specific location of the birds and - if known - the species of bird and approximately how long the birds have been dead.
Tests Show Alaskan Migratory Birds Clean of Avian Influenza
Recordnet.com
13 Sept 2006
Peter Ottesen
More than 13,000 wild migratory birds have been tested since April for avian influenza in Alaska and, according to scientists, no H5N1 virus has been detected in any of the samples. The program has a goal to test 75,000 to 100,000 migratory birds across the United States this year, including the Pacific Flyway, where the majority of its birds winter in the Central Valley of California.
"Even if avian influenza is discovered in wild birds in North America, not much is likely to change related to hunting seasons," said Bruce Batt, chief scientist for Ducks Unlimited. Waterfowl hunting seasons open Oct. 7 in northeastern California and Oct. 21 in most parts of the state.
"Health experts continue to stress that this strain of Asian bird flu has never been transmitted from wild birds to humans," Batt said. "The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not anticipate closing waterfowl hunting seasons based on what is currently know about this form of bird flu."
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