SALT LAKE CITY – State wildlife biologists are asking anyone with bird feeders or bathtubs to temporarily remove or clean them if they see dead or sick birds due to an increase in the number of sick or dead birds in feeders located north of Utah.
Authorities said on Tuesday that they suspected the increase was related to an outbreak of salmonella linked to the death of several songbirds in several U.S. states in recent months.
Salmonellosis, as it is officially called, is a bacterial disease transmitted by direct contact. It is commonly transmitted through infected feces, according to the Utah Wildlife Resources Division. It usually affects birds such as goldfinches, goldfinches and Cassin’s finches, but it can affect any bird that comes in contact with a feeder regularly.
Common signs of infection include bristly feathers, rapid breathing, lethargy, weakness, neurological signs and diarrhea.
The agency recently began receiving an increase in calls about sick or dead birds in Weber County and other counties in northern Utah, division spokesman Faith Heaton Jolley said. That was what prompted the division to issue an alert on the matter on Tuesday.
“We want to educate people to know what they can do to help slow the spread,” she said. “This is mainly for the health and safety of the birds themselves.”
DWR biologists request that Utahns who have seen sick or dead birds in their area temporarily remove all bird feeders and bathtubs for at least a month and clean them. Division experts said removing bird feeders and baths will spread the birds and help slow the spread of the disease in birds.
Jolley said utahns who have not seen sick or dead birds should clean their bird feeders or bathtubs as a precaution.
“We all love to see wild birds arriving at our feeders, but those that are not cleaned properly can pose more risks than benefits for birds,” said DWR biologist Adam Brewerton in a statement.
It is recommended that people wear gloves when handling a bird feeder or bath. Once the feeder or bath is removed, it is recommended that people clean it thoroughly with soap and water before disinfecting it with a 10% bleach solution.
“Soak it for at least 30 minutes, then rinse well and let it dry completely,” wrote the division’s staff. “Clean the area under the bird feeder and remove all bird seeds, which can attract birds to the area.”
Utahns who see more than five sick or dead birds in their backyards are encouraged to contact the nearest division office, where officers can conduct disease tests if this happens in a new area.
The Utah Wildlife Resources Division has listed outbreaks in Idaho, Oregon and Washington in recent months. California Department of Fisheries and Wildlife officials told the KCRA in Sacramento last month that an outbreak of salmonella was also reported in California in early December, after an increase in deaths of mostly American goldfinches and goldfinches in the Bay Area and Sierra.
“Our laboratory documents outbreaks of Salmonellosis periodically during the winter in pine siskins,” Krysta Rogers, senior environmental scientist in the California department told KCRA on February 8. “The previous major outbreak occurred between December 2015 and March 2016.”
But it’s not just biologists in the western United States asking residents to clean bird feeders and waterers. Carolina Waterfowl Rescue, North Carolina, also reported an outbreak in the Carolina region, according to WCNC in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Salmonellosis outbreaks of this nature are most often reported in the winter months and spread through bird feeders, according to the Cornell Wildlife Health Laboratory. The laboratory pointed out that humans and domestic animals can be infected by sick songbirds, but it is preventable.
“Common sense hygiene can protect against human infection: washing your hands, avoiding eating, drinking or taking care of yourself when handling contaminated animals or equipment,” he wrote.
Contributing: Paul Nelson, KSL NewsRadio