Dead birds and West Nile! - YorkieTalk.com Forums

csm08mms · 05-29-2008, 07:01 AM

I had the scare of my life this morning! As I brought the mail out to the mailbox for the postal worker to collect, I thought I would have Callie come out with me to go potty. She sniffed around, did her thing, then ran over to the neighbor's yard and sniffed some more, no big deal. After many minutes of sniffing the same spot I decided to investigate...

Low and behold, a big fat dead bird. I panicked. It's that time of the year again, mosquitoes are coming out, and they are still carrying the West Nile Virus, according to the CDC. Being a nurse, I tend to freak out at little things like this more than the average person (according to the boyfriend.)

So I went to the CDC's website, CDC West Nile Virus Homepage and checked out how to report the dead bird to my local dept. of health. The poor guy on the phone probably thought I was a nut.

Anyway, as far as I know the bird was not a crow or a raptor birds (falcons etc.) which are the only types that the NE DHHS will come to collect and test. West Nile Virus can only be transmitted, according to the NE DHHS by blood, which Callie did not bite in to the bird, thank God!

I thought I would inform everyone of this, as some areas of the country have higher incidence of WNV.

4doggiemama · 05-29-2008, 07:15 AM

It certainly doesn't hurt to be vigilant. Our Yorkies are to be hunters so I'm sure a dead bird would be of great interest to them. Dead birds scare me, too.

Patti · 05-29-2008, 07:55 AM

SOunds like Callie will be fine.These babies can scare years off our lives!!

yorkieusa · 05-29-2008, 09:43 AM

Thank you for posting this.

dagibbie · 06-02-2008, 03:52 AM

I am aware of watching out for dead birds. We had a barn finch die in the back patio, I have my husband dispose of it before I would let Generally out, however, what about baby birds and eggs that have been tossed from the nest. He will pick up things while we are walking before I get a chance to pull him back. I had to pry his mouth open the other day and pull out what looked like an egg or baby bird wrapped in grass out of his mouth. He is only 8 months old and I am hoping that he will outgrow this. Any ideas? Do baby birds and discarded eggs carry the virus?

chattiesmom · 06-02-2008, 06:03 AM

Thank you for the warning. West Nile is very scary!

05-29-2008, 07:01 AM	#1
csm08mms Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2008 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 82	Dead birds and West Nile! I had the scare of my life this morning! As I brought the mail out to the mailbox for the postal worker to collect, I thought I would have Callie come out with me to go potty. She sniffed around, did her thing, then ran over to the neighbor's yard and sniffed some more, no big deal. After many minutes of sniffing the same spot I decided to investigate... Low and behold, a big fat dead bird. I panicked. It's that time of the year again, mosquitoes are coming out, and they are still carrying the West Nile Virus, according to the CDC. Being a nurse, I tend to freak out at little things like this more than the average person (according to the boyfriend.) So I went to the CDC's website, CDC West Nile Virus Homepage and checked out how to report the dead bird to my local dept. of health. The poor guy on the phone probably thought I was a nut. Anyway, as far as I know the bird was not a crow or a raptor birds (falcons etc.) which are the only types that the NE DHHS will come to collect and test. West Nile Virus can only be transmitted, according to the NE DHHS by blood, which Callie did not bite in to the bird, thank God! I thought I would inform everyone of this, as some areas of the country have higher incidence of WNV. __________________ xoxoMeg & Callie dogster.com/dogs/789141 - Callie's Dogster

05-29-2008, 07:15 AM	#2
4doggiemama Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: KS Posts: 1,858	It certainly doesn't hurt to be vigilant. Our Yorkies are to be hunters so I'm sure a dead bird would be of great interest to them. Dead birds scare me, too. __________________ Joanne Rosie Cocoa Chipper Snowboy

05-29-2008, 07:55 AM	#3
Patti Donating YT 10000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 18,386	SOunds like Callie will be fine.These babies can scare years off our lives!! __________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : Maya's Mom RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html

05-29-2008, 09:43 AM	#4
yorkieusa Crazy about Kacee! Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 8,832	Thank you for posting this. __________________ Karen Kacee Muffin 1991-2005 Rest in Peace My Little Angel

06-02-2008, 03:52 AM	#5
dagibbie Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 87	Dead Birds I am aware of watching out for dead birds. We had a barn finch die in the back patio, I have my husband dispose of it before I would let Generally out, however, what about baby birds and eggs that have been tossed from the nest. He will pick up things while we are walking before I get a chance to pull him back. I had to pry his mouth open the other day and pull out what looked like an egg or baby bird wrapped in grass out of his mouth. He is only 8 months old and I am hoping that he will outgrow this. Any ideas? Do baby birds and discarded eggs carry the virus?

06-02-2008, 06:03 AM	#6
chattiesmom Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,627	Thank you for the warning. West Nile is very scary! __________________ *Yorkie Yummies Silk Step-In Harnesses * NapSaks Click on the links above for order information!**