OCR Text |
Show Page 8 The Ogden Valley News Volume XXIX Issue XI September 15, 2022 Avian Flu Confirmed in Wild Birds In The3 first Additional Counties in Utah case of avian flu in wild virus. However, it’s always recommended to birds in Utah was confirmed in April, and now the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has confirmed the virus has spread to wild birds in three additional counties, most likely due to the fall migration. The virus had previously been confirmed in wild birds in six counties in Utah, including Cache, Weber, Salt Lake, Utah, Tooele, and Carbon counties. Now, the virus has been confirmed in wild birds in three additional counties: Davis, Millard, and Sanpete counties. The rate of positive highly pathogenic avian influenza detections decreased during the summer, but there has been a recent increase in detections and positive cases over the past couple of weeks. Here is a breakdown of the most recently confirmed cases in Utah: Davis County • Two dead Canada geese were found in West Point on Aug. 16 • An owl was found in Syracuse on Aug. 17 • A cinnamon teal duck was found in Woods Cross on Aug. 22 • Two eared grebes were also found in Woods Cross on Aug. 22 • Another goose was found dead in Layton on Aug. 23 Sanpete County • A Canada goose was found dead in Mt. Pleasant on Aug. 17 Millard County • A Canada goose was found dead near Delta on Aug. 22 The birds were all collected by DWR officials and sent to the Utah Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Logan for testing. Samples were then sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, which confirmed they had highly pathogenic avian influenza. As of Aug. 30, 2022, a total of 44 birds and two red foxes have tested positive for avian influenza in nine counties. The birds infected with the virus in Utah include raptors and waterbirds, specifically Canada geese, great horned owls, hawks, pelicans, turkey vultures, grebes, gulls, and ducks. High pathogenic avian influenza viruses are very contagious among birds and can cause rapid and high mortality in domestic birds, such as chickens, turkeys, and domestic ducks. These viruses occasionally kill wild birds, as well. The most common wild birds impacted by the virus are typically waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, and scavengers (which include birds like hawks, owls, ravens, and vultures). There are usually few symptoms in waterfowl and shorebirds, but the virus can kill raptors and scavengers quickly. The virus is spread among birds through nasal and oral discharge, as well as fecal droppings. It can be spread to backyard poultry and domestic birds through contaminated shoes or vehicles. Songbirds are not typically affected by avian flu, so people shouldn’t have to remove their bird feeders unless they also have backyard chickens or domestic ducks, which are susceptible to the regularly clean bird feeders and baths. Although the current strain of the avian flu presents a low risk to people, it has been confirmed in at least one person in Colorado during this most recent outbreak. Visit the CDC website for more information on keeping yourself safe. “If anyone finds a group of five or more dead waterfowl or shorebirds — or any individual dead scavengers or raptors—they should report it to the nearest DWR office and absolutely make sure not to touch the birds or pick them up,” DWR Veterinarian Ginger Stout said. “Report it to us, and we will come collect them for testing. We are continuing to monitor this virus in wild bird populations. This particular strain is affecting more wild birds than the previous outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza.” If you are planning to hunt waterfowl or upland game birds this fall, here are some tips to keep yourself & your hunting dog safe: • Do not harvest, handle, or eat any animal that appears sick. • Field dress game animals in a well-ventilated area or outdoors. • Avoid direct contact with the intestines. • Wear rubber or disposable latex gloves while handling and cleaning birds. Wash your hands with soap and water, and thoroughly clean all knives, equipment and surfaces that come in contact with the birds. Disinfect using a 10% chlorine bleach solution. • Keep your game birds cool, clean and dry. • Do not eat, drink, or smoke while cleaning game or handling animals. • All game meat should be thoroughly cooked before eating (well-done or 165° F). • Dogs are susceptible to HPAI, but don’t often show clinical signs. Though the risk of infection is low, visit the DWR website to identify the locations with active cases of avian flu in wild birds and avoid those areas when using retrievers. Consult your local veterinarian if your dog exhibits any respiratory symptoms. • If you have domestic poultry, keep them separated from the wild bird carcasses you have harvested, and do not handle poultry after handling wild birds. The last outbreak of avian flu in the U.S. occurred in 2014–2015, when highly pathogenic strains of avian influenza were detected in wild birds of the Pacific, Central, and Mississippi flyways. During that outbreak, the virus was detected in two healthy ducks in Utah. For more information about the current avian flu outbreak in wild birds, visit the DWR website. You can also view all the latest cases of avian flu in wild animals on the DWR website. To report any symptoms of avian flu in domestic birds, contact the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. Motorized Vehicle Use on Lakebeds Can Lead to Citations Due to decreasing water levels at Great Salt Lake (GSL), there has been increased attention surrounding the lake, leading to increased visitors. With an uptick in visitors, state land managers want to remind the public of the rules surrounding the use of state sovereign lands. Over the last few weeks, law enforcement officers have seen more visitors driving motorized vehicles on the exposed lakebed of Great Salt Lake. For land managers, this raises serious concerns. “Driving on the lakebed doesn’t just disturb the delicate crust, but it also has serious implications for wildlife, air quality, and the sensitive GSL ecosystem,” said Ben Stireman, Sovereign Lands Program Administrator for the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands. Utah Code Section 65A-2-3.2p states that anyone, without written permission, operating a This picture shows vehicle on the recent damage done to motor bed of a navigable the GSL shoreline. Photo lake is guilty of a courtesy of Jim Winder, class B misdemeanor Division of Forestry, and is also liable for Fire and State Lands. civil damages. Driving on the lakebed also damages the delicate crust and contributes to the dust problem along the Wasatch Front during wind events. This dust impacts the air quality for many residents and visitors of northern Utah. Vehicles can also get stuck in the soft mud that has not yet been able to harden and dry, making a recovery difficult and causing even more damage to the lakebed. Sovereign Lands in Utah - Utah recognizes and declares that the beds of navigable lakes and rivers are owned by the state and are among its basic resources. The Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands oversees the management and regulates the use of these lands for the public’s health, interest, safety, and welfare. The state currently manages the following as sovereign lands: • Great Salt Lake • Utah Lake • Jordan River • Bear Lake (Utah portion, special rules for driving on the lakebed apply to Bear Lake) • Bear River (portions) • Colorado River (portions) • Green River (portions) • Moab Exchange Lands Thank you for your cooperation support in regard to this environmental and safety issue. Things You Can Do to Protect Your Water Resources Compiled by the Utah Chapter of the American Public Works Association Stormwater Committee Ensure the effectiveness of your community commissions • Know the roles and responsibilities of local officials and commissions. • Establish a water resources advisory committee to coordinate applicable activities. • Establish a conservation commission to facilitate conservation planning in conjunction with local land use planning. • Stay informed about key issues by attending workshops and reading educational materials on resource management and best management practices (BMP). Protect priority natural resources • Initiate comprehensive environmental and conservation planning. • Conduct a natural resource inventory. • Prioritize areas for protection in your community (watersheds, wetlands, river corridors, etc.). • Avoid development in sensitive watershed and aquifer areas. • Develop plans of action, such as watershed management plans, and an open space plan. • Revise zoning and subdivision regulations (land use controls) to support community plans. • Review town/city maintenance procedures. Incorporate design objectives into your regulations that will protect water quality, and look for them in site plan reviews • Retain the natural landscape (vegetation, contours, and natural drainages). • Reduce impervious surfaces (parking, roads, sidewalks, driveways, and compacted earth). • Emphasize on-site drainage for treated stormwater. • Encourage riparian buffers to protect wetlands and waterways. • Require proper septic system placement, design, and maintenance. • Require that plans include stormwater management plans. • Keep watershed maps on hand for determining if proposed developments are within your watersheds, and their potential impact. PROTECT WATER cont. on page 11 |