Washington wildlife officials: Leave bird feeders down until April to stop deadly disease

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Washington wildlife officials are extending their calls for residents to take down backyard bird feeders and remove bird baths until at least April 1 to help stop a deadly outbreak of salmonellosis that is killing the state's songbirds.

In February, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) advised residents across the state to remove all feeders due to an "irruption" or dramatic increase in population of pine siskins from Canada which were carrying an easily-transmissible bacterial disease.

"When birds flock together in large numbers at feeders, they can transmit the disease through droppings and saliva," said WDFW veterinarian Kristin Mansfield in a news release.

At first the agency said to leave all feeders — including seed, suet and hummingbird — down until March, but have extended their recommendation for another month as more sick songbirds have been reported.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/washington-wildlife-officials-leave-bird-feeders-down-until-april-to-stop-deadly-disease/ar-BB1dXelj?ocid=hplocalnews

[dem4decades]

1. As a loyal bird feeder I'd do this in a heartbeat.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

2. Interesting.

I don't happen to do bird feeders, but this is an interesting example of how disease spreads.

[Thunderbeast]

3. How widespread is this problem?

Is it an issue in the wider Pacific Northwest?