4 B
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2015
ODA
RAMPS UP
Migratory waterfowl poten-
tially carrying a highly patho-
genic bird flu virus are about to
begin the annual trek south
over Oregon and other states in
the Pacific Flyway.
That means it’s time for the
Oregon
Department
of
Agriculture (ODA) to step up
its outreach and education
efforts to backyard bird owners
whose flocks might come in
contact with wild waterfowl
over the fall and winter.
The messages haven’t
changed much from earlier this
year when ODA and its part-
ners embarked on outreach fol-
lowing two separate detections
of highly pathogenic avian
influenza (HPAI) in backyard
birds in Douglas and Deschutes
counties, but those messages
bear repeating.
“Getting the word out about
practicing good biosecurity is
important 12 months a year, but
fall and winter are especially
critical because migration of
waterfowl is taking place,” says
ODA Avian Health Coordinator
Madeline Benoit. “The cold
and wet weather ahead of us
actually helps the virus to sur-
vive better and with a lot of
people hiking or hunting in the
fall, they could unknowingly
track the virus home on their
shoes and spread it to any back-
yard birds they might have.”
Outreach efforts ramped up
following last December’s
detection of HPAI in a flock of
backyard birds in Douglas
County. That kicked off imple-
View
from 1B
non-official, much-too-snug
for 2015 “Redskins Hog
Heaven 1995” T-shirt the guy
defending the Redskins nick-
name is wearing at the chain
pizzeria.
Louis C.K. makes the cor-
rect observation that late in the
15th century, a bunch of dudes
took a boat ride from Europe
and thought they landed in
India.
“You guys are Indians,
right?” they asked.
“No,” the natives replied.
“We’re like, totally different
people.”
Armed with that knowledge,
six centuries later, not only do
we continue to persist in call-
ing the indigenous people of
this continent names more suit-
ed for the peoples who live on
a sub-continent bordering the
Indian Ocean, but in our
nation’s capital, we use the slur
variation of their name as a
mascot.
And this isn’t about the guy
who lives in his parent’s base-
ment, who comes up for air
long enough to flirt with the
bartendress and defend his
beloved team’s honor over a
A VIAN
FLU OUTREACH EFFORTS FOR FALL
mentation of Oregon’s multi-
agency response plan to bird
flu which includes enhanced
surveillance
along
with
increased outreach and educa-
tion, especially to backyard
bird owners.
A second detection of HPAI
in a Deschutes County back-
yard flock in February provid-
ed additional impetus to reach
bird owners throughout the
state.
While commercial poultry
operations need to be prepared
for dealing with HPAI, messag-
ing about good biosecurity has
focused on backyard bird own-
ers.
No commercial poultry in
Oregon was affected by the
outbreaks inside the state’s bor-
der, even though commercial
operators in other states were
greatly impacted by HPAI out-
breaks in the Midwest this year.
ODA and its partners will
seek out other events and ven-
ues this fall and winter. For
some backyard bird owners, it
will be news they have not yet
heard.
“We will be saying a lot of
the same things and hitting on
the points about increased
biosecurity,” says Benoit. “A
key message for backyard bird
owners is that they need to be
more aware now, and think of
how they can better protect
their birds.”
Some of the educational
tools being employed were
developed well before HPAI
arrived
to
the
Pacific
Northwest. Others have since
been developed. Infographics,
pamphlets, posters, stickers,
and info-magnets have been
created and distributed to loca-
tions that come in contact with
bird owners, including animal
feed stores.
Packets of information have
been sent to 4-H groups and
others. A backyard bird biose-
curity video features tips and
general practices that empower
people to protect their birds
from avian influenza.
A new video is in the works
that focuses on educating
hunters, falconers, birdwatch-
ers, and other recreationists that
might come into contact with
wild waterfowl this fall and
winter.
In general, HPAI messaging
to backyard bird owners falls
into three categories– a focus
on birds, a focus on the envi-
ronment, and a focus on trans-
portation and equipment. One
important tip applies to birds in
all situations, HPAI notwith-
standing.
“Check your birds for signs
and symptoms of disease,” says
Benoit. “Know what healthy
birds look like. Keep their
water and feeders clean, along
with equipment that may come
in
contact
with
them.
Quarantine new birds that you
purchase for 30 days when they
come into your flock. Buy birds
from reputable sources.”
Focusing on the environment
is a bit more challenging since
migratory waterfowl are seem-
personal deep dish.
Nor is this an opportunity for
somebody to spout some
ridiculous nonsense about
political correctness run amok,
and that’s why we need to vote
for a guy who used to own the
New Jersey Generals.
For one thing, I agree.
Political correctness is kind
of anti-productive at times.
Why should we be tiptoeing
around the tulips of some-
body’s idiocy just because we
are afraid of a fight?
Change the name.
I don’t care if you grew up
with a bunch of John Riggins
posters on your walls. The
Native Americans don’t like
the name. They’re offended.
That should supersede your
love of Mark Rypien and Joe
Theisman jerseys.
Change the name.
Times are different now. O.J.
Simpson is a killer; Bill Cosby
is a serial rapist; the guy who
used to be on the Wheaties box
is now a girl, and he’s against
gay marriage; and the guy who
lost weight eating subs is a
pedophile.
We’re talking about a foot-
ball team, not genocide or bul-
letin boards in high school or
your favorite flavor of pudding
pops. We’re talking about a
national embarrassment in our
nation’s capital (if we were to
relocate our capital to
Landover, Md.) that extends
well past the team’s pitiful per-
formances on the field year in
and year out.
Change the name.
It’s time.
ingly everywhere in the fall.
Benoit asks that bird owners be
aware of introducing the virus
on such things as bike and
truck tires, equipment, and sup-
plies.
In addition to practicing
good biosecurity, backyard bird
owners should monitor their
flock closely and report sick or
dead birds to ODA at 1-800-
347-7028.
The
Oregon
Department of Fish and
Wildlife continues asking peo-
ple to report wild bird deaths
by calling 1-866-968-2600.
People should avoid contact
with sick or dead wild and
domestic birds.
The need for outreach and
education will continue in the
months ahead, as it is unlikely
that HPAI will disappear any
time soon.
For more information on
avian influenza and biosecurity
measures, visit www.bit.do/OR
birdflu.
Buying or Selling? I can help.
Chris Bunch
Principal Broker
541 997-8877
Royal St. Georges Drive #13 – Prime lot in the
upscale neighborhood known as Sandpines, Wis-
teria. This golf course gated community is a gem,
centrally located and near the beach. Large lot
priced to sell. $40,000. #2337-14241591
1749 Highway 101 • 541-997-1200
NOW BUYING
USED
CARS & TRUCKS
Under 100,000 miles.
2150 Hwy. 101 • Florence
(541) 997-3475 • 1-800-348-3475
Looking Back
...need a friend?
Meet
Boo Radley
Just like cashmere, I’m
plush white, silky soft
and you’ll never want
to let me go! In fact you
may want to wear me!
Come on in and try me
on to see if we’re the
PURRFECT FIT...I’m
Boo Radley!
If you would like to meet Boo Radley or any of his
friends, please visit us at:
FLORENCE HUMANE SOCIETY
2840 Rhododendron Drive • Florence • 541-997-4277
www.fl orencehumane.org
This message brought to you by:
www.shoppelocal.biz
Friends of the
Humane Society,
if you would like to help a
friend call the Siuslaw News
541-902-3525.
Subscribers look for the
special commemorative section in the
September 16th issue.
Single copies will be available for $5
at the Siuslaw News
148 Maple St.
in Historic Old Town