BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

[moderator]

Here is the bird forum, as requested!

Now to start things off. Are any of you bird hunters concerned about West Nile Virus? I just got done reading this story here in Colorado.

http://www.9news.com/storyfull.asp?id=6685

[maineguide]

As I understand it only crows,ravens,magpies, and bluejays are infected with the virus.
So I would only think that hunters that hunt this type of bird would worry about it.

They also say that mosquitos carry this virus. In the warmer climates were this insect thrives use plenty of bug spray with deet.

[bitmasher]

I don't think this will effect bird hunters any more than other people who like to get out. The transmission path is:

->mosquito bites infected bird

->mosquito carries virus

->infected mosquito bites human

So it is the mosquito's you have to look out for. Unless you live in an area with biting birds. :wink:

[ChesterGolf]

We have a couple of cases up here but as stated it was only found in a bluejay and a crow. I'm not worried yet be will keep on top of it as it comes more to light.

[moderator]

The Texas Parks and Wildlife released this a few weeks ago. Pretty good info on West Nile Virus:

http://www.biggamehunt.net/sec.....70212.html

[oneeyedwacko]

I just rerad a article in Ducks Unlimited Website about the virus. It has been found in many different birds including mallards, wood ducks, sandhill cranes, I can't remember the rest. DU thinks that for some reason the wild birds are immune as the only birds found to be infected come from zoos.
http://www.ducksunlimited.org/....._2002.asp#

There is the link to the article.
Wacko

[bitmasher]

Hey Oneeyedwacko, that does sound strange that only zoo birds would get it rather than wild birds too. Maybe it is just more common in zoo animals...

BTW, Nice handle. :smile:

[ This Message was edited by: bitmasher on 2002-09-23 20:53 ]

[oneeyedwacko]

Thanks!! I got the nickname from buddies several years ago and it kinda stuck so I use it on the forums i go to.
wacko

[moderator]

The Minnesota DNR is recommending you use gloves when butchering game birds to avoid West Nile Virus infection.

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/new.....1033155292

[cob]

My wife works for a vet diagnostic lab and has found it. She said in animals and humans every one that has been diagnosed with it has already had some other health problem or was really old.

[bitmasher]

That makes sense, usually the old or sick are the first to get hit with the Flu (just another virus) too.

[expatriate]

Here in LA (Lower Alabama), West Nile has definitely been a player. About a month or so a dead bird was found in my neighborhood that tested positive for West Nile. I agree with what's been said about normal transmission, but the way the authorities reacted to the discovery made me wonder.

They said if you find a dead bird to use gloves, bag it, put it in the freezer, and call the authorities. This suggests that they think it could somehow be transmitted via contact. But then again, it may just be that they don't want some idiot throwing unbagged roadkill in his freezer. Bag or no bag, my wife would freak if I did such a thing.

But I digress. I haven't heard a thing about what to do if the bird's dead because you killed it. They say West Nile can be transmitted via breast milk, so it makes you wonder about eating an infected bird. I've never got into bird hunting, but I imagine if anybody could answer this question it'd be someone from the Eastern seaboard or South.

PS -- I can't remember the species, but the bird found in my neighborhood wasn't a raven, crow, or jay (no magpies in AL), and it definitely wasn't in the zoo.

[ This Message was edited by: expatriate on 2002-10-31 21:45 ]

[maineguide]

I just got my new DU magazine and they had an article in it about the west nile virus.
They tested some mallards and it seems that the ducks exposed to the virus it had no effect on them.
So it sounds like waterfoul will be OK.
But the article also said that the birds of pray were effected and dieing

[expatriate]

Sounds like they're only telling half the story. I'll accept the statement that the ducks aren't infected by it. But can they carry it? There's a difference between having the disease in your system vs. being sick from it. Typhoid Mary comes to mind. I don't care if the duck gets sick or not; I care whether the duck has West Nile virus in its system and I'll get sick from it. I'm curious if anyone has said anything about ducks' ability to carry the virus after exposure, versus being infected from it.

[ This Message was edited by: expatriate on 2002-11-06 15:56 ]

[moderator]

Mallards and wood ducks can carry west nile virus, but they appear to not become ill from the virus.