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Elizabeth Melnick says her wildlife centre is dealing with phone call after phone call of dying or dead wild birds.
Elizabeth’s Wildlife Center in Abbotsford. B.C., says avian flu is often a growing concern as wild birds migrate in the fall — but this year, call volumes are especially notable.
“This is the worst year we’ve had. Absolutely the worst. [Wild birds] are just littered all over the place,” said Melnick who is the founder of the centre.
The avian flu virus circulates naturally in wild birds and waterfowl, and spreads through migratory birds. Highly pathogenic strains of avian flu can cause severe illness and death in birds like Canadian geese and chickens.
Since 2021, B.C. has been the hardest-hit province by highly pathogenic avian flu, with more than 10 million domestic birds impacted.
So far this fall, the B.C. Poultry Emergency Operations Centre says no infections have been reported on farms — but the province and farmers remain on high alert.
Melnick says they are averaging about 60 calls a day, with common reports of dying or dead cackling geese and other birds including snow geese and ducks.
The centre cares for injured, orphaned and sick wild birds and small mammals.
In the event a bird is suspected to have avian flu, it is assessed it in a quarantined area and then officials are contacted to humanely deal with the bird.
Elizabeth Melnick, the founder of Elizabeth’s Wildlife Center, says they are averaging about 60 calls a day with people reporting dead or dying wild birds. (Baneet Braich/CBC)
Melnick says while it’s not unusual to receive calls this time of year, they are unable to keep up with the volume.
“There’s no way. And then plus our resources have really dwindled as far as money goes, because we need gowns and gloves and masks and everything to go with it,” said Melnick.
The Wildlife Rescue Association of B.C. in Burnaby also says it’s noting more calls.
“Our centre has also had a dramatic increase in phone calls from the public concerned about sick waterfowl they have found, and an uptick in the number of sick birds admitted to our centre where avian flu is the suspected reason for admission,” said Jackie McQuillan, the program’s director.
No cases on farms reported so far
The B.C. Poultry Emergency Operations Centre says no infections have been reported on farms and strict measures are in place to protect domestic birds.
“We’re remaining diligent. We’re at the highest alert level that we have, called the red biosecurity level,” said Shawn Hall, who is the centre’s director.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said that there are currently no detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in domestic birds in B.C.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says, currently, there are no detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza in domestic birds in B.C. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
Hall says the province has also implemented an indoor order so that commercial poultry needs to be inside to minimize contact with wild birds.
Other measures include farm gates being closed, only essential vehicles entering and leaving farms with their tires cleaned, mandating personal protective equipment and better air filtration systems.
“Unfortunately, we have a lot of experience dealing with this virus,” said Hall. “We’re cautiously optimistic that all of that together is helping reduce the risk to farmers.”
Migrations arriving ‘quite late’ than expected says vet
B.C.’s deputy chief veterinarian notes wild birds are arriving “quite late” compared to what is expected.
Dr. Chelsea Himsworth says there is a hypothesis that this is due to the El Niño weather event, where warmer temperatures up north are delaying migration.
“We’re seeing fewer birds out on the landscape, and fewer sick and dead birds submitted to the program than we did at this time last year,” said Himsworth.
“Whether that signals that there is going to be a lower case load, or just a delay in the cases, time will tell.”
The province is asking the public to report any bird deaths. (Manuel Carrillos Avalos/CBC/Radio-Canada)
Provincial authorities collaboratively monitor avian flu with several tools — such as testing dead wild birds or sampling feces and sediment in specific wetlands to help detect the virus early, according to Himsworth.
The province is asking anyone who sees a dead bird not to touch it, and report it to the wild avian mortality investigation hotline.
