Wildlife Disease News Digest

TOP STORIES

Second condor found shot with illegal ammo
Mercury News - www.mercurynews.com
05 Apr 2009
Location: Monterey County, California, USA - Map It

A California condor has been found shot with lead buckshots by biologists in Monterey County, the second of the critically endangered indigenous species to be found in March with wounds from lead ammunition and suffering compromised digestive systems from lead poisoning.

Biologists with the Ventana Wildlife Society reported that a rare California condor, a juvenile female, was trapped March 26 and transported for medical treatment to the Los Angeles Zoo. It was determined to have three lead pellets lodged in its body, two in a wing and one in a thigh. . . .

Both individuals were also diagnosed with potentially irreversible damage to their digestive tracts due to lead poisoning, most likely from ingesting carrion shot with led buckshot and left by hunters, in spite of a 2008 hunting regulation revision banning lead bullets in the condor's California range.

>>> FULL ARTICLE

>>> Condor Shooting on the Central Coast [video 2 min 24 sec]

Worry about whoopers
Edmonton Journal - www.edmontonjournal.com
05 Apr 2009
E Struzik

When the world's last remaining flock of wild whooping cranes set off on its migration south from the nesting grounds on the Alberta/Northwest Territories border last fall, wildlife biologists on both sides of the border were upbeat about how the 4,000-kilometre flight to Texas would turn out. . .

But instead of celebrating another milestone, U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials were scratching their heads early in the new year, wondering why 34 of the birds that were in Canada last summer didn't show up on the salt marshes of the Gulf coast late last fall.

That concern turned to alarm when another 21 birds died over the winter.

The recent discovery of yet another seriously injured bird in late March means one-fifth of the population has perished in the last 12 months. What's more, U.S. Geological Survey researchers have identified the presence of a wasting disease in the endangered flock for the first time.

>>> FULL ARTICLE

West Nile virus update 2009 - Western Hemisphere
ProMed - www.promedmail.org
06 Apr 2009
Location: Fresno, Fresno County, California, USA - Map It

A dead crow discovered in Fresno is the 1st bird to test positive for
West Nile virus in Fresno county this year (2009), the Fresno County
Health Department said Friday [3 Apr 2009].

>>> FULL ARTICLE

National HPAI Early Detection Data System (HEDDS) Update
NBII Wildlife Disease Information Node
06 Apr 2009
Area: United States

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Early Detection Data System (HEDDS) is an avian influenza data sharing repository. NBII and a network of partners across the nation have created HEDDS to hold data from different surveillance strategies and to provide a comprehensive view of national sampling efforts.

Recent HEDDS Activity

Apr 3, 2009: 441 samples and tests were added to HEDDS for 2008. Total is now 78,210.
Mar 13, 2009: 360 samples and tests were added to HEDDS for 2008. Total is now 77,769.
Mar 6, 2009: 216 samples and tests were added to HEDDS for 2008. Total is now 77,409.

>>>HEDDS' LPAI H5N1 Results Table

>>>For more about HEDDS

Other Avian Influenza News
ProMed - Avian influenza: Germany, H7
Bird Flu Found On Western KY Poultry Farm [H7]