SALT LAKE CITY – State wildlife biologists are asking anyone who has bird feeders or bird baths to temporarily remove or clean them if they see dead or sick birds as a result of an increasing number of sick or dead birds at feeders in northern Utah.
Officials said Tuesday that it suspects the rise is linked to a salmonella outbreak linked to the deaths of numerous songbirds in several US states in recent months.
Salmonellosis, as it is officially called, is a bacterial disease that is transmitted through direct contact. It’s often spread through infected feces, according to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
Officials did not indicate when the increase in deaths and illnesses from songbirds began; However, they said that salmonellosis typically affects birds such as pine siskins, goldfinches and cassin finches, but it can affect any bird that comes into regular contact with a bird feeder. Common signs of infection include ruffled feathers, rapid breathing, lethargy, weakness, neurological symptoms, and diarrhea.
The recent increase in the number of reported sightings of sick or dead songbirds is why Division biologists who have seen sick or dead birds in their area request Utahns to temporarily remove and clean all bird feeders and bird baths for at least a month.
“We all love to see wild birds coming to our feeders, but feeders that are not properly cleaned can pose more of a risk than a benefit to birds,” DWR biologist Adam Brewerton said in a statement Tuesday.
Experts from the division said removing bird feeders and bird baths will spread the birds and help slow the transmission of the disease in birds. It is encouraged that people wear gloves when handling either item.
Once removed, it is encouraged that people thoroughly clean their bird feeders and bird baths with soap and water before disinfecting them with 10% bleach solution.
“Let it soak for at least 30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly and let it dry completely,” the division officials wrote. “Clean the area under the bird feeder and remove any bird seeds that could attract birds to the area.”
Utahns who see more than five sick or dead birds in their yard are encouraged to contact the nearest ward office, where officials can conduct disease testing if it happens in a new area.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources took stock of outbreaks reported in Idaho, Oregon and Washington in recent months. Officials at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife told KCRA in Sacramento last month that a salmonella outbreak was also reported in California beginning in December following an increase in deaths of mostly American goldfinches and pine ice cream in the Bay Area and Sierra regions.
“Our lab regularly documents salmonellosis outbreaks in pine siskin during the winter,” Krysta Rogers, a senior environmental scientist for the California Department told KCRA on Feb. 8. “The previous major outbreak occurred between December 2015 and March 2016.”
But it’s not just biologists in the western US who are advocating for residents to clean bird feeders and birdbaths. The Carolina Waterfowl Rescue in North Carolina also reported an outbreak in the Carolina region, according to WCNC in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Salmonellosis outbreaks of this nature are most commonly reported in the winter months and spread through bird feeders, according to the Cornell Wildlife Health Lab. The lab pointed out that people and pets can get infected from sick songbirds, but it’s preventable.
“Common sense hygiene can protect against human infection: avoid washing hands, eating, drinking or personal care while handling animals or contaminated equipment,” it wrote.