Wildlife Disease News Digest

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Cause of Growth on Norfolk Botanical Garden Eaglet Confirmed [Press Release]
WAVY TV 10 - www.wavy.com (Source: Wildlife Center of Virginia)
27 May 2008
Area: Virginia United States -- Map It

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) received confirmation today from the Southeastern Cooperative for Wildlife Disease Study (SCWDS) in Athens, Georgia, that the cause of the growth on the Norfolk Botanical Garden eaglet is avian pox. Avian pox is a viral disease that is contracted by any number of birds. The disease is generally spread through mosquitoes but may be spread from bird to bird (especially by birds in very close contact). Symptoms include warty nodules on the featherless parts of the skin which can become enlarged resulting in impairment of vision, breathing and feeding.

Avian pox poses no human health hazard. The eaglet was removed from the nest on Thursday, May 22, 2008, to be examined by VDGIF Wildlife Veterinarian Jonathan Sleeman. Nuckols Tree Care Service used a bucket truck to retrieve the eaglet and lower it to the ground. Dr Sleeman examined the young bird and took a tissue sample from the growth on the eaglet's beak and sent it to SCWDS. Concern that the growth was beginning to deform the young bird's beak and that it may eventually inhibit breathing led to the bird being transported to The Wildlife Center of Virginia in Waynesboro, where it is being treated.

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Diseased bats may be heading to Fairfield County
Stamford Times - www.thestamfordtimes.com
29 May 2008
S Kobak
Area: Connecticut United States -- Map It

A disease responsible for the deaths of thousands of bats throughout New England may be making its way to Fairfield County. White nose fungus, a mysterious illness characterized by the growth of a white fungus on the nose and other areas of affected bats, is already infecting bats in Lichfield County, New York and Vermont, thereby threatening to increase the bug population. "Without these bats eating the mosquitoes, we're going to have a serious problem on our hands," said Dominic Cuozzo, who works for A All Animal Control of Southern Connecticut.

Wildlife biologists are studying the illness and are not sure whether the fungal growth is the cause or whether it is an opportunistic infection taking advantage of bats weakened by a virus, bacteria or some other cause, said Jenny Dickson, supervising wildlife biologist for the state Department Enivironmental Protection. Thus far, the disease, which has an 80-to-100 percent mortality rate, has killed more than 90 percent of the hibernating bats in 4 caves and mines in the state of New York have died since winter 2006-07. The disease has only recently been found in caves in Lichfield County, according to Cuozzo. As bat colonies mix, the disease could spread to Fairfield County soon, said Cuozzo.

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Squirrel hunters set 1,000 traps
BBC News - news.bbc.co.uk
28 May 2008
Area: England/Scotland United Kingdom -- Map It

Conservationists in Cumbria are to place 1,000 traps along the border with Scotland in an effort to stem the northward spread of grey squirrels. The move is aimed at preserving numbers of native red squirrels, which have dwindled since greys were introduced into the UK in the 19th Century. Sightings of reds have fallen in recent months in northern parts of Cumbria around Brampton, Carlisle and Longtown. The Save Our Squirrels (SoS) project will monitor the situation.

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Biologists hoping barrier stops fish disease
Deseret News - deseretnews.com
29 May 2008
Area: Utah United States -- Map It

Biologists are hoping that constructing a fish barrier and removing fish from 11.2 miles of the West Fork of the Duchesne River will stop or at least slow down the spread of whirling disease. Biologists built the barrier and removed the fish after whirling disease was discovered in the main stem of the Duchesne River. The river is in northeastern Utah. "We don't know if we can completely stop the spread of whirling disease," said Roger Schneidervin, regional aquatics manager for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, "but we would sure like to slow it down for a very long time."

To try and slow its spread, DWR biologists have constructed a small barrier above the Vat Diversion. The barrier will stop fish from moving upstream. "We then treated the stream between the new barrier and the Vat Diversion with rotenone to remove all of the fish," Schneidervin said. He said the biologists' goal is twofold: "We want to keep fish from moving above the new barrier to the upper reaches of the West Fork, and we want to keep fish from moving down the diversion tunnel system. This system transfers waters from the West Fork to Current Creek Reservoir, to Strawberry Reservoir and eventually to the Wasatch Front via Diamond Fork."

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Photo courtesy of BBC News