August 6, 2008

TOP STORIES

Killing fleas on prairie dogs gives hope to ferrets
Fort Collins Coloradoan - www.coloradoan.com
05 Aug 2008
T Hughes
Image courtesy of Dean Biggins
Area: United States

A Fort Collins-based federal researcher has discovered that killing fleas on prairie dogs dramatically reduces the spread of plague - and helps endangered ferrets thrive. Ferrets eat prairie dogs, and when prairie dog colonies collapse, so does the ferrets' food source, said Dean Biggins, a researcher with the USGS who has spent 25 years studying ferrets. The plague infection itself also kills the prairie dogs. Black-footed ferrets are a federally endangered species, and their known population was down to about 18 ferrets when scientists captured them all in the mid-1980s for protection and breeding.





Tests: State winning battle against VHS

WIBA 1310 - www.wiba.com
04 Aug 2008
A Beckett
Area: Wisconsin United States

Efforts to stop the spread of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia appear to be paying off. The fish-killing virus was discovered last year in the Lake Winnebago and Lake Michigan chain of waters, prompting fears that it could spread quickly. DNR fisheries management director Mike Staggs says that does not appear to be the case though. Tests conducted in 67 bodies of water this spring have shown no new occurrences of VHS anywhere in the state.





Concern as sperm whale turns up in firth
Inverness Courier - www.inverness-courier.co.uk
05 Aug 2008
Image courtesy of Alasdair Allen
Area: Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom - Map It

Marine conservationists and scientists were last night keeping watch on a sick sperm whale — normally at home in the North Sea and deep waters off the west coast — in shallow water near Avoch bay. Science officer Sarah Dolman, of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, said first indications were the 45-50ft adult male was ailing."It is quite emaciated, which means it has not been feeding," she said. "It is very skinny and has probably been sick for a while. "This is a deep water species — it certainly should not be inside the Moray Firth."


>>>FULL ARTICLE

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Uxbridge West Nile case first for Durham this summer
Newsdurhamregion.com
05 Aug 2008
R Szekely
Area: Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada - Map It

A dead crow found in Uxbridge has tested positive for West Nile virus. Since beginning its West Nile surveillance activities in May, the Region has sent 27 dead birds for testing. This is the first positive test in Durham Region this season. "It was reported by a resident as are many of our dead birds and it was picked up by one of our employees," said Laura Freeland, manager of environmental health for Durham's health department. The dead bird was picked up on July 24 and sent for testing to the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Centre in Guelph on July 28.





OTHER WILDLIFE HEALTH RELATED NEWS
Image courtesy of T Nadler




WILDLIFE HEALTH RELATED PUBLICATIONS


Naturally Induced Humoral Immunity to West Nile Virus Infection in Raptors
EcoHealth. 2008; [ePub ahead of print] [online abstract only]
NM Nemeth et al.

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