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Avian Influenza FAQ

As avian influenza has been a hot topic over the past couple of months, we have received many questions from concerned wildlife enthusiasts about the virus. In this article, we address your questions and provide resources to stay up to date on avian influenza developments. For further information on avian influenza you can also refer to this article.

Have there been any recent positive cases in BC?

Should I be worried about my own health?

Can I get avian influenza from petting a bird?

Can eggs/dairy transmit the avian influenza virus to humans?

A sick bird was in my yard, will my dog get sick?

Should I be worried about cleaning bird feeders in my sink?

How do I disinfect my patio/items on my patio?

Can all birds get avian influenza? Has avian influenza been detected in hummingbirds?

Have there been any recent positive cases in BC?

This avian influenza dashboard shows test results from across Canada.

Should I be worried about my own health?

In general, the risk to human health from wild birds infected with an avian influenza virus (both low and high pathogenic strains) is considered to be low. You can read more here.

However, since research regarding avian influenza is ongoing, it’s important to adhere to government guidelines, such as the recommendation to not handle sick wild birds.

You can find more government information and guidelines here.

Can I get avian influenza from petting a bird?

The government recommends not to touch or handle sick birds or animals. Avian influenza is a respiratory disease. If you touch a sick bird or animal, then touch your eyes, nose, mouth or face, it is possible for you to get sick.

If you do touch a sick bird or animal, always wash your hands with soap and water and after removing gloves. Clean, disinfect or dispose of any potentially contaminated clothing, equipment or surface.

If you have touched or handled a sick or dead animal, watch for symptoms for 10 days after exposure. You can find additional guidance from the BC Centre of Disease Control here.

Can eggs/dairy transmit the avian influenza virus to humans?

Currently, the Canadian government states: “There is no evidence to suggest that eating cooked poultry or eggs could transmit the virus to humans.” You can read more here.

A sick bird was in my yard, will my dog get sick?

Avian influenza, primarily adapted to birds, is not as easily transmitted to mammals. While much less common, many types of mammals have been infected including pigs, horses, dogs, domestic and wild cats, foxes, cows, goats, squirrels, mice, skunks, marine mammals, bears, mustelids, opossums and humans.

If your pet has been in contact with a sick bird, it’s important to monitor for symptoms. Fever, lethargy, eye infections, lack of appetite, difficulty breathing, or neurological issues (like seizures or tremors) are symptoms of avian influenza to look out for in dogs and cats.

If your pet is showing symptoms of avian influenza, contact your veterinarian immediately. If you do not have a vet, you can find the closest one to you here.

You can find additional information on how to protect your pet from avian influenza here.

Should I be worried about cleaning bird feeders in my sink?

Using a dedicated tub or laundry room sink may be wise to prevent splatter of any pathogens from bird feeders onto food preparation surfaces. Whether you clean your feeders in a sink, tub, or outside, we advise thoroughly disinfecting the area where you clean any feeders when you’re done. You can find additional feeder cleaning guidelines here.

How do I disinfect my patio/items on my patio?

When disinfecting any items it’s important to wear the necessary PPE, like gloves and a mask. Clean the contaminated area with soap and water and then disinfect the space and cleaning items.

Wash your hands with warm soapy water after removing your gloves. Be sure to dispose of the PPE and other contaminated items in a plastic bag.

Can all birds get avian influenza? Has avian influenza been detected in hummingbirds?

Avian influenza is most prevalent in waterfowl and shorebirds, as well as any bird that scavenges or preys upon these birds i.e. birds of prey, gulls and corvids. However, other species may also become ill with avian flu.

Thus far, we are unaware of any reports of hummingbirds being affected by the avian influenza virus in Canada. If you’d like to stay updated about the species impacted by avian influenza, this government dashboard provides an up-to-date overview. Cornell Lab also shares a detailed list of affected species.

More commonly observed diseases among hummingbirds include fungal infections like candidiasis. This fungal infection causes a hummingbird’s tongue to swell, making it impossible for them to eat. As with other avian diseases, the spread of candidiasis can be prevented by cleaning feeders regularly.

You can find a detailed hummingbird feeder cleaning guidance here.

Colour Your Favourite Bird!

In honour of back-to-school season Wildlife Rescue is launching a colouring campaign!

Below you will find three different bird colouring pages. Get the wildlife lovers in your life to colour their favourite bird and post a photo of the creation on social media. Be sure to tag Wildlife Rescue for the chance to be featured online!

Download the templates here.

You can find all of our social media channels here:

Facebook: Wildlife Rescue Association of BC
Instagram: @wildliferescuebc
Twitter/X: @WRAofBC

This initiative isn’t just for kids, feel free to share these templates with any colouring enthusiasts you know! If you don’t have social media, you can submit your work to giving@wildliferescue.ca

How to Safely Drop Off Wildlife

Hundreds of injured and orphaned wildlife patients arrive at Wildlife Rescue due to window and car strikes, nest disturbances, and natural and human disturbances.

Below is your step-by-step guide that takes you through the process of dropping off rescued animals.

Found an animal in distress?

If, at any time, you are unsure what to do please contact our Support Centre for advice on how to handle injured wildlife. This is the fastest way to get in touch with our Support Centre staff and volunteers who can help assess the situation and guide you through it. Never attempt to handle anything dangerous such as a bird of prey or bat yourself.
If you are going to handle small songbirds or waterfowl, we suggest wearing gloves and a mask for the safety of animals and yourself. Use a cardboard box with small ventilation holes and a completely secure top. Place a towel inside and put the animal on the towel, closing the top quickly and securely. Place a towel over the box.

Dropping off at Wildlife Rescue:

Please notify our Support Centre team by reporting a wildlife emergency.
Our drop off hours vary seasonally, but our Support Centre is available to answer questions from 9:00-3:00 pm daily, 7 days a week (including holidays).

If you plan to drop wildlife at the centre during operating hours, please follow these instructions:

Proceed to 5216 Glencarin Drive, on the south shore of Burnaby Lake.
Please park in any of the parking spots in either parking lot.
Follow the signage to our Admissions Centre where Wildlife Rescue personnel will guide you on next steps.

If you plan to drop wildlife at the centre after operating hours, please follow these instructions:

Proceed to 5216 Glencarin Drive, on the south shore of Burnaby Lake.
When you are within sight of the end of Glencarin Drive you will notice the Administration Building on your left with the clearly marked Intake Shed to the left of the stairs.
Please park in any of the parking spots in either parking lot.
Place the bird in a secured and ventilated box on the shelf inside the Intake Shed.
Completely fill out the front side of the white intake form (located on the clipboard) so we know where the bird was found and what happened to it.
Place the form under the box.
Ensure the door to the Intake Shed is securely closed when you depart.
Please consider donating to help care for the patient you have found here.

What is your Favorite Winter Bird?

Canada has a wide range of bird species. In British Columbia, we may host bird species for a longer period or at different times of the year, than other parts of Canada.

Give the Gift of Hope!

Giving Tuesday is a day dedicated to giving back, supporting the causes that matter most to you. As a wildlife lover, you can give the gift of hope and help injured wildlife from rescue to release.
Right now, we have dozens of animals in care that need your support. Birds like this young Swainson’s Thrush who was admitted to Wildlife Rescue after flying straight into a window. Although birds have excellent vision, surpassing humans in many ways, window strikes are common as birds see open sky and trees reflected in the glass. Hitting a solid pane of glass at full speed can be fatal.

Preparing Your Yard for Fall Friends

Your yard provides a rich resource of food and shelter to wildlife all year round. In the fall it can be more so as food and a safe place to live become harder to find. While you might want to tidy up your yard before the winter months, here are a few reasons why it is good to hold off.

If you leave your plants to go to seed, you will be providing a food source for wintering birds. If you leave the plants after they go to seed, the old plant stems can provide shelter to a variety of wintering insects including bees. The dead stalks can be used as building materials for birds building their nests in the spring.
If you leave your lawn long, you provide shelter for wintering insects which in turn will feed newly hatched birds in the spring.
If you leave a few little leaf piles, these can provide a safe place for animals like frogs to hibernate. Rock piles can provide this as well, especially near water.
If you have brush piles, they can provide protection for small mammals such as marmots, chipmunks and hares.
If you have a pond that ices over in the winter, keep a hole in the ice so animals are able to access the water. You can make a hole in the ice without cracking it by placing a container of hot water on the ice to melt it. This method ensures that the animals can access the water without the danger of them falling through the ice.

Your yard is a precious resource for so many species of wildlife, thank you for taking care of it.

If you see a bird that has exposed bone or blood, bugs or insects covering it, no feathers, or a bird that is sleeping, human intervention is required. Please contact our Support Centre for assistance.

If you would like to help with the many efforts of the Wildlife Rescue Association, please click here to learn more.

Sora waterbird with a Candy-Corn Bill Survives Cat Attack

The Sora is a small waterbird of the family Rallidae, sometimes referred to as the sora rail or sora crake. This small chicken-like bird is chubby with uniquely long toes that help it to tackle floating vegetation when searching for food. Soras are grayish-brown with white-edged feathers, a dark throat patch with vertical white lines, a black mask from the bill to the eye and a white patch under the tail. The bill is bright yellow which might make you think of Hallowe’en candy corns.

Great Blue Heron Survivors Released to Rookery

Thanks to the efforts of Wildlife Rescue staff and you the young herons were raised under supportive care at Wildlife Rescue hospital. One heron was much older than the other and developed his skills quickly and therefore was released a few weeks earlier and the other joined him a few weeks later.

Group of California Quail Ready to Return Home

The large group of quails has been growing and developing slowly over the last few weeks and has gained weight and are starting to show signs of flight. They are not in the final stage of their pre-conditioning release and in a large enclosure that mimics their natural environment.

Navigating Bats in Your Community

Wildlife Rescue Support Centre has been busy answering curious finders and coordinating the increased appearance of bats in the last 3 months. Although the majority of the 208 of calls are inquiries only about bat safety and protocol, Wildlife Rescue has seen a surge in the number of bats who need supportive care and treatment.

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Have there been any recent positive cases in BC?

Should I be worried about my own health?

Can I get avian influenza from petting a bird?

Can eggs/dairy transmit the avian influenza virus to humans?

A sick bird was in my yard, will my dog get sick?

Should I be worried about cleaning bird feeders in my sink?

How do I disinfect my patio/items on my patio?

Can all birds get avian influenza? Has avian influenza been detected in hummingbirds?

Found an animal in distress?

Dropping off at Wildlife Rescue:

If you plan to drop wildlife at the centre during operating hours, please follow these instructions:

If you plan to drop wildlife at the centre after operating hours, please follow these instructions:

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