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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 2022
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Raptor center ramps up Biosecurity protocols
Louis Krauss
Register-Guard
As avian flu cases continue to spread
among birds in the WIllamette Valley, it
has been a trying time for veterinarian
Ulrike Streicher and other staff mem-
bers at the Cascades Raptor Center in
Eugene.
In the past two weeks, roughly a quarter of
the 40 red tail hawks brought in have shown
symptoms of the disease and had to be euth-
anized. There is no way to treat it, Streicher
said, and it’s necessary to prevent spread.
“I know it’s important for containing
the disease and particularly also pro-
tecting other birds in our care, but at the
same time it’s totally heartbreaking,”
she said.
The area’s first reported cases of avi-
an influenza were found in several geese
in Eugene’s Alton Baker Park last
month, according to the Oregon Depart-
ment of Fish and Wildlife. This is the
first time the disease has been reported
in Oregon, ODFW said.
Officials said they expect it to spread
beyond Lane and Linn counties over the
next several weeks.
It is often seen in waterbirds such as
ducks, geese and gulls; shorebirds such
as sandpipers; chickens; turkeys; ea-
gles; crows; raptors; and vultures. Scav-
enger birds can be infected after eating a
sick bird.
The highly contagious disease has
been spreading from the eastern U.S. for
months. The raptor center stopped ac-
cepting rescued waterfowl in March,
since they are the most common carri-
ers of the disease.
A nonprofit animal wildlife hospital
and nature center, the Cascades Raptor
Center is home to 36 resident birds of
prey and a varying number of animals
there for treatment.
The center has ramped up its bio-
security protocols to protect the birds
from the disease, and all newly rescued
birds are required to go through a five-
day quarantine period in an isolated
space before they enter the normal
treatment area. Staff has been taking
steps to ensure they don’t accidentally
spread the contamination, including
putting on protective clothing in the
quarantine space.
With the increased precautions and
threat of disease spread, Streicher said it
has been mentally exhausting on the cen-
ter’s workers.
“You go into full battle gear when you
work in the quarantine area with the new
arrivals,” Streicher said. “It’s very time-
Ulrike Streicher, staff veterinarian at the Cascades Raptor Center in Eugene, stands in the doorway of the isolation ward
set up to treat sick birds in an attempt contain the bird flu within the center. CHRIS PIETSCH/THE REGISTER-GUARD
consuming, but it’s also very stressful be-
cause you have to really keep control of
what comes into the quarantine area so
that nothing that leaves is infected or just
gets disposed of in there.”
The common symptoms of avian flu
in hawks include respiratory issues,
pneumonia and encephalitis, which
leads to convulsions and more.
“They start vocalizing, they go in cir-
cles, it’s a very horrid scenario,” she
said.
Some owls brought in have also
shown these symptoms, Streicher said.
Anyone who sees an injured or sick
bird should still report it to the raptor
center’s hotline for rescue, although
there may be a few more questions due
to the disease, Streicher said.
The disease has already had an im-
pact on local bird populations, Streicher
said, especially this year’s number of
baby ducks and geese.
“We got it at a very unlucky time be-
cause it basically came to Lane County
at the time young goslings hatched, so it
literally wiped out a whole generation,”
she said.
The cold and wet weather this spring
has also contributed to the impacts of
avian flu, since the virus survives better
in those conditions, Streicher said.
There have been no cases of avian flu
that have infected any resident birds at
the raptor center so far, Streicher said.
The disease is often transmitted to
hawks when they eat a goose or duck.
To protect from disease spread, those
hiking and especially those near water-
fowl habitat should wash their hands
and shoes, Streicher said. Residents
should be careful to not bring any dirt
into their homes from waterfowl habi-
tats and should avoid contact with
goose and duck feces, she added.
Chicken owners should also be care-
ful about cleaning their hands and
shoes.
The risk to humans is low. While it
usually is not transmitted to humans, it
can infect people and can range from no
symptoms to more severe ones, accord-
ing to the CDC.
Portland Audubon has a similar pol-
icy to Cascades Raptor Center and is not
accepting any rescued ducks or geese at
this time, but will admit most other na-
tive wildlife species, according to a Q&A
page on the disease.
Anyone who sees a sick or injured
bird can report it to the raptor center’s
call line at 541-485-1320, and also
should report avian flu symptoms to
ODFW at 866-968-2600.
Louis Krauss covers breaking news
for The Register-Guard. Contact him at
lkrauss@registerguard.com, and follow
him on Twitter @LouisKraussNews.
A red tail hawk being treated in
the isolation area at the Cascades
Raptor Center. PHOTO PROVIDED BY
CASCADE RAPTOR CENTER
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