WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) — One of the area’s leading experts in wild birds is warning people and pets to stay away from dead birds, as there appears to be an outbreak of Avian influenza — commonly called the bird flu.
Posted: Feb 16, 202
Dead birds, mostly Canada geese, are showing up around bodies of water in the area. The bird flu is highly contagious, so the handling of dead birds should be done with care.
Heather Merritt is the director of Canfield’s Birds in Flight Sanctuary. It was Merritt who pointed First News to Perkins Park, where we found at least four dead Canada geese.
“We are getting multiple calls on dead birds,” Merritt said. “It’s avian influenza, which is a highly pathogenic, very contagious virus that the birds are carrying, and people need to stay away from them and keep their pets away from them.”
Merritt said the freeze deprived birds of water. Now that it’s thawing, small holes are opening in the ice, to which the birds are congregating, spreading the virus.
Merritt strongly stressed that people and pets should stay away from dead birds. She said what to do if they find them.
“They should double-bag the bird while they have gloves and a mask on and just throw it in their trash,” Merritt said.
Bird flu is not limited to Canada geese. Crows are dying, too. Both birds have a tendency to band together.
LINK:
https://www.wkbn.com/news/local-news/warren-news/experts-warning-locals-to-avoid-dead-birds-amid-avian-flu-outbreak/
