Bird at bird feeder (Image credit: CFJC/Kent Simmonds)

By Connor Gunn

BIRD FLU

Kamloops residents asked to take down bird feeders to combat bird flu outbreak

May 5, 2022 | 5:01 PM

KAMLOOPS — Avian influenza — or bird flu — is spreading rapidly across Canada and the BC SPCA and Wildsafe BC are requesting the public to temporarily take down their bird feeders.

Locals are advised to help prevent the spread of the virus by being cautious with their bird feeders as bird flu can affect many different types of birds including farm animals like chickens and turkeys — and it can also affect pets.

WildSafe BC Program Manager Vanessa Isnardy says in order to protect yourself and other animals from the virus, bird feeders need to be cleaned or taken down.

“Right now, with the risk of avian flu, it’s really challenging to keep them really clean and to avoid birds from congregating and spreading avian flu amongst them so we are discouraging the use of bird feeders right now — especially since we have a lot of migrating bird species at the moment coming through the region and they can spread avian flu beyond Kamloops.”

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The H5N1 strain is considered highly pathogenic and contagious causing severe illness and death in birds.

Ashley Fontaine with the Kamloops SPCA says taking down bird feeders as a precaution is necessary.

“It’s a very tough virus. It’s very durable so it lasts on surfaces for up to a few months at a time right now they’re saying 90 days maybe even longer and it can survive in temperatures like freezing cold temperatures so we just want to eliminate the spread so we can eliminate the virus,” Fontaine adds that this precaution is also temporary.

“We’re asking people to take the bird feeders down until the end of the summer. With spring and summer here, there’s lots of natural resources for a bird to have access to food so we’re asking them to take it down until the end of summer and if the flu is gone they can put the bird feeders back up closer to fall and winter.”

People have to be on the lookout for symptoms of the disease as sick birds may be lethargic, unusually fluffed up, have nasal discharge and excessive watery eyes or swelling of the head and eyelids.

For more information regarding bird flu, contact BC SPCA.