Island wildlife rescue facility implements avian flu precautions
Staff and volunteers at the Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society (MARS) in Merville are busy securing their property after the recent discovery of a case of avian flu in the Comox Valley.
Safety measures include closing the facility's visitor centre to the public, as well as covering up its bird enclosures and limiting access to the property.
“This is a first for us, at least since I’ve been here, we’ve never had to do anything quite this intensive before in terms of quarantines and precautions,” says Kiersten Shyian, assistant manager of wildlife rehabilitation for MARS.
The precautions are being taken in order to protect the society’s “ambassador birds” and patients that are currently in the group’s wildlife hospital.
“We have a barrier now so people can’t get any closer to the hospital, we will be coming out to pick up patients from the public, we are doing a whole bunch of different sanitizing measures and things like that,” Shyian says.
Triage and safety protocols have been introduced to ensure no infected animals are brought into the hospital, but there are also safety measures being carried out to prevent wild birds from bringing in the infection.
“We are actually tarping over the roof of our ambassador enclosures, just to try to discourage any wild birds from landing on top and ending up pooping in their enclosure, so they do still have access to the elements but we are topping all the tops of the enclosures,” says Shyian.
Signage has also been placed on the property to notify the public that the centre is having to decline the donation of any poultry, waterfowl or eggs.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Air France flight from Paris to Seattle lands in Iqaluit after heat smell in cabin
A plane travelling from Paris to Seattle was forced to make an emergency landing in Iqaluit after there was a heat smell in the cabin during the flight.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.
Security guard shot, critically injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.