SALT LAKE CITY – State wildlife biologists are asking anyone with bird feeders or bird baths to temporarily remove or clean them if they detect any dead or sick birds due to an increasing number of sick or dead birds in the dining rooms located in northern Utah.
Officials said Tuesday that they suspect the rise will be linked to a salmonella outbreak related to the deaths of numerous songbirds in several U.S. states in recent months.
Salmonellosis, as it is officially called, is a bacterial disease that is transmitted by direct contact. It usually spreads through infected feces, according to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
Officials did not specify when the increase in deaths and illnesses of songbirds began; however, they said that salmonellosis normally affects birds such as pine spines, goldfinches and Cassin’s finches, but that they can affect any bird that is in contact with a bird feeder on a regular basis. The most common signs of infection are flying feathers, rapid breathing, lethargy, weakness, neurological signs, and diarrhea.
The recent increase in sightings of sick or dead songbirds is why division biologists are asking Utahns who have seen sick or dead birds in their area to temporarily remove all bird feeders and restrooms. of birds for at least a month and clean them.
“We all like to see wild birds come to our feeders, but feeders that are not properly cleaned can pose more of a risk than a benefit to the birds,” DWR biologist Adam Brewerton said in a statement Tuesday.
Experts in the division said the removal of bird feeders and baths will spread the birds and help curb the transmission of the disease in birds. It is recommended that people wear gloves when handling either item.
Once removed, it is recommended that people thoroughly clean bird feeders and baths with soap and water before disinfecting it with a 10% bleach solution.
“Soak it for at least 30 minutes and then rinse it well and let it dry completely,” division officials wrote. “Clean the area under the feeder and remove any bird seeds that may attract to the area.”
Utahns are advised to detect more than five sick or dead birds in their backyards by contacting their nearest division office, where officials can perform disease tests if they are happening in a new area.
The Utah Wildlife Resources Division listed outbreaks reported in Idaho, Oregon and Washington in recent months. California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials told KCRA in Sacramento last month that a salmonella outbreak in California was also reported in December following an increase in goldfinch and finch deaths. Americans in the Bay and Sierra region.
“Our lab documents out salmonellosis outbreaks periodically during the winter in pine nuts,” Krysta Rogers, a senior environmental scientist in the California department at KCRA, said Feb. 8. “The previous major outbreak occurred between December 2015 and March 2016.”
But it’s not just western U.S. biologists asking residents to clean bird feeders and restrooms. According to the WCNC in Charlotte, North Carolina, the rescue of Carolina Waterfowl in North Carolina also reported an outbreak in the Carolina region.
According to the Cornell Wildlife Health Lab, salmonellosis outbreaks of this nature are most often reported during the winter months and spread through bird feeders. The lab noted that humans and pets can be infected by sick songbirds, but that it can be prevented.
“Common sense hygiene can protect you from human infection: washing your hands, avoiding eating, drinking, or taking personal care while handling contaminated animals or equipment,” he wrote.