Wildlife Disease Information Node News Digest - GeoRSS Feed

Answers sought from dolphin deaths (Massachusetts, United States)

Tue, 14 May 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by Cape Cod Times - www.capecodonline.com on 5/15/2013 - ...Nearly 9 feet long, over 1,000 pounds, and nearly 7 feet in girth, it took 14 people to lift the big male bottlenose Monday evening from where he had come to rest on the flats off Crowes Pasture in Dennis. Rescuers also saved a smaller female that was swimming with the male. Both animals were deemed healthy enough to be released and were transported to Nantucket Sound and let go. Unfortunately, both died overnight and were found on Yarmouth beaches early Tuesday morning. The necropsy on the male was performed that afternoon; the female will be examined today. Hundreds of tissue samples will be set to laboratories around the country to be tested for disease and contaminants.

Chronic wasting disease in deer likely to move farther east in Virginia (Virginia, United States)

Mon, 13 May 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by Daily Progress - www.dailyprogress.com on 5/14/2013 - Chronic wasting disease, a progressive condition that can remain idle for years before killing the infected animal, has been found in deer 25 miles from the Shenandoah National Park's northern border, said park biologist Rolf Gubler. The park stretches northeast from outside Waynesboro to Front Royal.

Dead Fish Wash Up Along Eastern Shore (Alabama, United States)

Sat, 11 May 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by WKRG News 5 - www.wkrg.com on 5/12/2013 - Hundreds of redfish and catfish are floating on the surface of Mobile Bay. Scientists say it appears they've been dead for several days, now they're starting to wash up along the Eastern Shore near Mullet Point. "The first thing you worry about is if it's a major fish kill and is it affecting the entire bay," said a resident. So, why are these fish dying? Some researchers say it's hard to tell because the fish have been dead for a while so they're not easy to test. Dr. Bob Shipp, who teaches marine sciences at the University of South Alabama, has his own thoughts about what's happening in Mobile Bay. "Normally these fish kills are associated with low oxygen levels, especially in the summer when the water gets hot and it loses it's oxygen," Shipp says. But, right now Dr. Shipp doesn't believe that's what's causing the deaths.

Dead Fish Wash Up Along Eastern Shore (Alabama, United States)

Sat, 11 May 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Local ground squirrel tests positive for plague (California, United States)

Sat, 11 May 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by ABC 10 News - www.10news.com on 5/12/2013 - A ground squirrel that tested positive for plague on Palomar Mountain has led San Diego County health officials to warn campers and hikers to take precautions....

UPDATE: DNR Investigating Fish Found Dead in Tygart Lake (West Virginia, United States)

Thu, 09 May 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by 12 WBOY.com - www.wboy,com on 5/10/2013 - The Division of Natural Resources said it continues to investigate after approximately 130 white bass fish that were found dead in the Tygart Lake Thursday. The DNR said the fish were affected by a disease that it does not think has affected any other species. DNR will collect some fish at the lake next week for testing but said that all water chemistry looks normal.

Hundreds of Dead Fish Found in Bristol Pond: DEEP crews responded to Page Park on Thursday to investigate (Connecticut, United States)

Wed, 08 May 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by NBC Connecticut - www.nbcconnecticut.com on 5/9/2013 - Hundreds of dead fish were discovered in a pond in Bristol Thursday. Bristol Parks officials and the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection responded to Page Park after someone called to report the dead sun fish floating on the surface of the pond. Experts from DEEP classified the occurrence as a natural kill. "The sun fish right now are spawning. When they go into spawning, they are in close proximity to each other," said Don Mysling, Senior DEEP Fisheries Biologist. During spawning, the fish don't eat and become weak. They can get small cuts and are susceptible to illness. "Virus or bacteria can spread quite rapidly from one individual to another," Mysling said. "So it's not an unusual occurrence."

NC health officials reminding citizens of rabies risk in wildlife (Arizona, United States)

Tue, 07 May 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by White Mountain Independent - www.wmicentral.com on 5/8/2013 - Navajo County health officials have issued a warning after an attack a by a rabid bobcat in the southern area of the county. Drought, food source availability and urban interface have driven wildlife to enter human environments.

Distemper Outbreak Among St. Louis County Skunks (Missouri, United States)

Sun, 05 May 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by CBS St. Louis - stlouis.cbslocal.com on 5/6/2013 - ou heard about it first on KMOX several weeks ago - a widespread outbreak of distemper among raccoons in St. Louis County. Bi-State Wildlife Hotline founder & president Angel Wintrode has an update, saying the distemper problem in raccoons is easing up a bit. However, a new problem has emerged. Wintrode told KMOX that officials are seeing a lot of skunks becoming ill from distemper, especially in south St. Louis County.

White-nose syndrome found in Boone National Forest (Kentucky, United States)

Thu, 02 May 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by Kentucky.com on 5/3/2013 - A rapidly spreading fungal disease affecting bats has been discovered in Daniel Boone National Forest. The U.S. Forest Service says white-nose syndrome was found on hibernating bats in six caves inside the forest. Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources confirmed laboratory findings. ... Forest Biologist Sandra Kilpatrick says 38 bat hibernation caves were surveyed over the winter, with white-nose syndrome found in six. Those six caves are in Jackson, Rockcastle and Pulaski counties.

Bobcat attacks woman behind Lowe's; rabies confirmed (Arizona, United States)

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by White Mountain Independent - www.wmicentral.com on 4/29/2013 - It has been confirmed that the bobcat that attacked a young woman on Sunday on Forest Lane in Show Low has tested positive for rabies. The woman who was attacked was treated for rabies after the incident and has been notified of the positive test. Following a bobcat attack on a young woman in a neighborhood... in Show Low, Arizona Game and Fish Department (department) officials are advising area residents to be alert for any wild animal or pet that appears to behave oddly, indicating the potential presence of rabies.

Hundreds of birds die of starvation after spring snowstorm (Colorado, United States)

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by Sky Hi News - www.skyhidailynews.com on 4/29/2013 - Local wildlife officials have determined an estimated one to two hundred dead robins and other similar bird species that have been found in the area died of starvation due to the recent snowstorms. It is unclear whether the birds were resident birds of the area or early migrators that were traveling through the area and were caught in the recent snowstorms. ...Robins survive mostly on insects, Crosby said. And due to the snow they were not able to get to the ground to retrieve food to keep up with their energy demands and subsequently starved to death. Enough birds died to raise concerns about a possible outbreak of a disease, said Michelle Cowardin, a wildlife conservation biologist for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. "When anything like this happens we want to get them to the lab to see if there is a disease problem," Crosby said. "But this was pretty obvious." Necropsies completed on six birds revealed the cause of death to be starvation, Crosby said. [From photo description: Robins investigate the snowy conditions during last week's snow storm in Granby]

Socorro County Fox Diagnosed with Rabies (New Mexico, United States)

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by Mountain Mail - www.themountainmail.com on 4/27/2013 - The New Mexico Department of Health confirmed rabies in a fox that attacked a young dog at a home. The attack happened about a mile south of Magdalena on March 23. Tissue samples from the fox submitted to the Department of Health's Scientific Laboratory Division tested positive for rabies....The last confirmed animal rabies cases in Socorro County were a calf and a bat, both in 2009.

The Wild Side: What’s behind bird die-offs? (Wisconsin, United States)

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by Star Journal - www.starjournalnow.com on 4/26/2013 - When I came into the office Monday morning, I received a phone call from a concerned homeowner who found several dead birds around their birdfeeder and near the house. Most of them appeared to be common redpolls. Unfortunately, I knew right away what had happened. Redpolls are one of our most susceptible bird species to a bacterial infection called Salmonella. Our wildlife health division has received scattered reports of small numbers of sick and dead birds at backyard feeders around the state. Pine siskins, redpolls and goldfinches were all documented with the fatal infection in Dane and Washington counties. To date, they have a total of 18 counties reporting bird deaths, including Price and Oneida counties. That day, I received five reports of dead birds from homeowners across Vilas, Oneida and Lincoln counties. I collected a sample of birds and shipped them to the wildlife health lab to confirm my suspicion of Salmonella. The reports of dead birds continued into Tuesday.

Turkey Virus Alert in New York and Maine - (Maine, United States)

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by Outdoor Life - www.outdoorlife.com on 4/25/2013 - Officials in both New York and Maine have issued alerts asking spring turkey hunters to help them identify birds that may be suffering from Lymphoproliferative Disease Virus (LPDV). The virus, which causes Elephant Man-like lesions on a turkey's head and legs, has already been found in the Maine population while biologists in New York are seeking further information to determine whether the disease has impacted their flock.

Mysterious oil slick off Newfoundland coast threatens wildlife (Newfoundland, Canada)

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by Global News - globalnews.ca on 4/25/2013 - A spokesman for the Canadian Coast Guard says samples are being collected of some form of oil that is leaking from beneath the waters off northeastern Newfoundland. Coast guard spokesman Robert Grant says there have been reports of oiled seabirds in the Change Islands and Fogo Island area since March 31st.... Local residents have reported seeing up to 400 oiled seabirds. Grant says the source of the oil remains a mystery, but it appears to be coming from an area west of Change Islands.

Mysterious oil slick off Newfoundland coast threatens wildlife (Newfoundland, Canada)

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Algae and pneumonia blamed for marine deaths (South Australia, Australia)

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by ABC News - www.abc.net.au on 4/23/2013 - Testing on dead dolphins and fish which washed up on South Australian beaches recently showed fungal pneumonia and naturally-occurring algal blooms were to blame. Satellite imagery from the CSIRO showed high levels of algae in the water during March, which led to gill irritation and effectively suffocated the fish. Diagnostic testing of fish samples ruled out infectious fish diseases for the mass kill. Autopsies are still being done on 26 dead dolphins, but initial testing has indicated they died of fungal pneumonia.

ProMED: Undiagnosed deaths, dolphin: update (Sicilia, Italy)

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by ProMED Mail - www.promedmail.org on 4/23/2013 - The Italian stranding Network on Marine Mammals, [in Italian], born from a collaboration between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environment in order to coordinate the issue, managed the unusual mortality event occurred along the Tyrrhenian coasts of Italy. The network obtained complete traceability of reports and of sampling as well as uniform diagnostic procedures. Post mortem investigations were performed by Istituti Zooprofilattici Sperimentali (IIZZSS) [Experimental Zooprophylactic Institutes], namely IZS Lazio Toscana, IZS Mezzogiorno, IZS Sicilia, and IZS Sardegna coordinated by IZS Piemonte Liguria and Valle d'Aosta and supported by the Cetacean Emergency Response Team (CERT = 96 Padova University), applying uniform diagnostic protocols and sharing the results of laboratory analysis. They sampled 58 percent of the stranded animals, according to their conservation conditions. Data obtained allowed to advance 1st hypotheses about possible causes of this unusual mortality. Most of the animals showed a significantly compromised immune system. Approximately 30 percent of the tested subjects resulted infected by dolphin morbillivirus (DMV). This percentage could increase to 41 percent in case of confirmation of the 6 pending analyses. Other pathogens, acting as opportunistic agents, were identified such as _Photobacterium damselae_ subspecies _damselae_ (60 percent), herpesvirus (27.7 percent), _Toxoplasma gondii_ (9.62 percent), and non-specific inflammatory lesions were found in a lot of the tissues sampled. From available data it is not possible to assert with high level of probability the role of DMV as the primary cause of death in these cetaceans, however its action on the immune system may have played an essential role in this mortality event.

Rabies Detected in New Area of State (Alaska, United States)

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by Alaska Department of Fish and Game on 4/23/2013 - A wolf killed in late March this year after it closely approached a trapper around the Chandalar Lakes area has tested positive for rabies. Rabies had not previously been documented in this area south of the Brooks Range. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is asking the public to report any wolves, wolverines, foxes or other wildlife acting abnormally to the nearest ADF&G office, and by sending an email to dfg.dwc.vet@alaska.gov. Animals with rabies might be fearless in approaching people, attack inanimate moving objects, or be unable to run or move normally, said Dr. Kimberlee Beckmen, wildlife veterinarian with the department.

Borneo pygmy elephant death tests lay blame on unidentified toxin (Sabah, Malaysia)

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by The Guardian - www.guardian.co.uk on 4/19/2013 - Lab tests fail to conclusively prove the deaths of at least 14 endangered animals in January were caused by poisoning. After three months, officials still don't know for certain what killed at least 14 Bornean elephants (Elephas maximus borneensis) in the Malaysian state of Sabah. However tests do indicate that the herd perished from a "caustic intoxicant," possibly ingested accidentally or just as easily intentionally poisoned. A distinct subspecies, Bornean elephants are the world's smallest with a population that has fallen to around 2,000 on the island....When the elephants were found dead in Gunung Rara Forest Reserve, suspicion immediately turned to nearby oil palm plantations and logging concessions, both of which view elephants as pests. Commercial poaching is also significant in the area, although the elephants' tusks were not removed. As of yet, however, a criminal investigation has turned up nothing.

Seabirds affected by second wave of sticky pollution 'could number thousands' (England, United Kingdom)

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by The Guardian - www.guardian.co.uk on 4/17/2013 - Wildlife agencies warn that the numbers of birds affected could be far greater than those harmed earlier this year The numbers of seabirds affected by a sticky substance in the sea off south-west England over the past week could be far greater than those harmed by a similar - or possibly the same - spill earlier this year. Wildlife agencies in Devon and Cornwall said numbers of birds killed or rendered helpless could reach "thousands" and that "a whole generation of seabirds" may have been wiped out in a single pollution incident. Dead and distressed birds have been washing up along beaches in Devon and Cornwall since the middle of last week, covered in a sticky substance that has been confirmed as polyisobutylene, also known as PIB or polyisobutene, an oil additive often used to improve the performance of lubricating oil and in products ranging from adhesives to sealants and chewing gum. Affected species include razorbill, puffin and gannets, but predominantly guillemots.

Seabirds affected by second wave of sticky pollution 'could number thousands' (England, United Kingdom)

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Seattle Dead Whale Mess Raises A Stink (Washington, United States)

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by The Inquisiter - www.inquisitr.com on 4/16/2013 - Seattle's dead whale, which washed up Saturday at a small Puget Sound Beach town called Burien, attracted an unusual crowd over the weekend as onlookers crowded around the remains of the 70-foot fin whale. The beached animal is estimated to have been dead for about a week before it washed up, and there's reportedly quite a stink.... Fin whales don't dive deeply, and they are frequently struck by ships. John Calambokidis, a research biologist, told a local TV station that he's pretty sure that's what happened in this case: "[T]the whale was hit by a ship when it was still alive." There are visible signs of red paint on the whale. Unfortunately, because it was almost torn in half by the collision with the unknown ship, the skeleton and carcass are of no value.

Seven dolphin dead as carcasses wash up on our beaches, PIRSA investigates (South Australia, Australia)

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by Adelaide Now - www.adelaidenow.com.au on 4/16/2013 - SEVEN dolphin carcasses - including three infants - have washed up on South Australian beaches in the past eight days. It takes the total number of dolphin deaths to 23 since the start of March. Environment Department chief executive Allan Holmes said a juvenile dolphin had been collected from Hallett Cove over the weekend, while officers would soon retrieve a dolphin found at South Port yesterday morning. "Staff at the department's Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary (ADS) are also monitoring a female dolphin guarding her dead calf in the Port River," he said...." He said the causes of death would not be known "until autopsies are completed". Dolphins were also found at West Beach on April 12 and at Outer Harbor on April 8. A further two dolphin carcasses were found off Yorke Peninsula beaches last week.

ProMED: Avian influenza: Zoonotic LPAI H7N9, wild pigeon, OIE (Jiangsu, China)

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by ProMED Mail - www.promedmail.org on 4/16/2013 - Chinese authorities say they have found the H7N9 strain of bird flu in a wild pigeon. They say it's the 1st time the virus has been detected in wild birds. Officials of the Ministry of Agriculture say they found the virus in a wild pigeon caught in the city of Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. They say the genetic sequence of the virus is very similar to that discovered in pigeons sold at a Shanghai market. The officials say wild birds could be spreading the virus among poultry. They will further investigate the infection sources and routes. The authorities have been culling birds after the virus was found in live poultry sold at markets in areas where infections were reported. Location: Qinhuai, Qinhuai, Nanjing, Jiangsu Date of start of the outbreak: 16 Apr 2013 Outbreak status: continuing (or date resolved not provided) Affected population: 1 sample from wild pigeon

ProMED: Avian influenza: Zoonotic LPAI H7N9, wild pigeon, OIE (Jiangsu, China)

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by OIE World Animal Health Info. Database (WAHID) Interface - web.oie.int/wahis on 4/16/2013 - Chinese authorities say they have found the H7N9 strain of bird flu in a wild pigeon. They say it's the 1st time the virus has been detected in wild birds. Officials of the Ministry of Agriculture say they found the virus in a wild pigeon caught in the city of Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. They say the genetic sequence of the virus is very similar to that discovered in pigeons sold at a Shanghai market. The officials say wild birds could be spreading the virus among poultry. They will further investigate the infection sources and routes. The authorities have been culling birds after the virus was found in live poultry sold at markets in areas where infections were reported. Location: Qinhuai, Qinhuai, Nanjing, Jiangsu Date of start of the outbreak: 16 Apr 2013 Outbreak status: continuing (or date resolved not provided) Affected population: 1 sample from wild pigeon

ProMED: Avian influenza H5N1: Swallow (Ninh Thuan, Vietnam)

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by ProMED Mail - www.promedmail.org on 4/13/2013 - Nearly 5000 salangane birds, which are raised by local people in Viet Nam's central Phan Rang city, were found dead and said to be infected with the avian flu strain H5N1, the local Tuoi Tre newspaper reported on Friday [13 Apr 2013]. According to Vice Chairwoman of Phan Rang City People's Committee Nguyen Thi Hue, from 28 Mar 2013 to 11 Apr 2013, about 4900 salangane birds out of the flock's 10 000 head raised by the Yen Viet Company Limited were found dead in Phan Rang City of Ninh Thuan province. Among the dying birds to be tested at the local Veterinary Department No. 6, 8 samples were found positive to the avian flu strain H5N1. This is the 1st time human-raised salangane birds were found dead in Viet Nam because of the avian flu strain H5N1, so there are not yet specific measures to control the expansion of the disease, except those applied to the H5N1-infected poultry, said Nguyen Xuan Binh, director of the Veterinary Department 6.

Trinidad environmentalists investigate mystery death of hundreds of black vultures (Trinidad and Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago)

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by Caribbean 360 - www.caribbean360.com on 4/11/2013 - The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) says it is unable to identify any environmental reasons why more than 100 black vultures (Coragyps atratus) died in West Trinidad on Monday. The EMA said it is also working on the theory that the birds may have been feeding on the carcass of an animal which had been poisoned. "We can't identify an environmental cause as such that they were exposed to. There were 150 birds, we estimated. There was nothing else in the vicinity. We have been liaising with the Poultry Surveillance Unit, which is part of the National Disease Centre, to see if it was a case of the avian flu," EMA chief executive officer Dr. Joth Singh told the Trinidad Guardian newspaper. But he said preliminary tests had shown avian flu had not killed the birds.

Mystery sticky substance back to blight seabirds (England, United Kingdom)

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by The Guardian - www.guardian.co.uk on 4/11/2013 - RSPCA rescues guillemots washed up on south coast of England, two months after similar pollution outbreak. More than 30 birds have been rescued after being washed up on beaches across the south coast of England covered in a sticky substance, the RSPCA said on Thursday. A further 27 guillemots were collected from beaches stretching from Mevagissey in Cornwall to Plymouth and Whitsand Bay. It adds to the 12 guillemots rescued on Wednesday affected by what appears to be the same sticky substance that harmed their colonies out at sea two months ago.

Caution: Zion herd infected with Sore Mouth Disease (Utah, United States)

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by SUU News - www.suunews.com on 4/10/2013 - Bighorn sheep in Zion National Park have become infected with a disease called Sore Mouth Disease, or contagious ecthyma. Sore Mouth Disease is a virus similar to chicken pox, and like chicken pox, it is typically a mild disease. People can be infected if direct contact with infected sheep occurs....Baltrus said the herd size of the Zion bighorn sheep is about 250, taken from an aerial survey a few years ago. Because of the size of the herd, Zion officials expect the disease to go through most of the herd.

Stone curlews died underweight because of 'cold spring' (England, United Kingdom)

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by BBC News - www.bbc.co.uk/news/ on 4/10/2013 - One of the UK's rarest birds is being put at further risk by the cold spring, the RSPB has said. The bodies of eight underweight stone curlews have been discovered in fields in Norfolk, Suffolk and Wiltshire over the past few days. The birds are thought to have come from Africa and Spain but struggled to find enough food to survive. Conservation director Martin Harper said it was a "stark reminder of how fragile this species is". The birds weighed about 300g (10oz) compared to what is considered a healthy weight of 450g (15oz).

Stone curlews died underweight because of 'cold spring' (England, United Kingdom)

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Stone curlews died underweight because of 'cold spring' (England, United Kingdom)

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Fish Die-Offs in Shanghai and Beijing (Beijing, China)

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by Epoch Times - www.theepochtimes.com on 4/9/2013 - ... more than 600 pounds of dead fish were pulled from the Sijing Tang River in Shanghai in early April, according to state news agency Xinhua.... According to the report, local residents said that the fish die-off started at the end of March and recently got worse, making the water turbid and smelly. Another batch of dead fish appeared around the same time in a Beijing lake. The cause of the deaths is unclear, but the administrator of surrounding Chaoyang Park says it has nothing to do with pollution, state media Beijing News reported.

Fish Die-Offs in Shanghai and Beijing (Shanghai, China)

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Mysterious deaths: 10 peacocks drop dead in Tharparkar (Sind, Pakistan)

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by The Express Tribune - tribune.com.pk on 4/9/2013 - Ten peacocks have died and several others are suffering from an unknown disease in Singalo village, Tharparkar. A number of birds died due to Ranikhet disease in Tharparkar last year and the residents of the village feel that the birds might be suffering from the same disease as the symptoms are similar....

Deadly Disease Hits Home of America's Largest Colony of Endangered Gray Bats (Alabama, United States)

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by Center for Biological Diversity - www.biologicaldiversity.org/swcbd on 4/8/2013 - The devastating bat epidemic known as white-nose syndrome has reached the home of the world's largest wintering colony of endangered gray bats and as many as a million endangered Indiana bats. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials announced today that the fungal disease, which has killed nearly 7 million bats in 22 eastern states and five Canadian provinces since 2006, has been documented in Fern Cave on Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge in northern Alabama, which was created to protect gray bats. In announcing the discovery, the Service said the latest cases were "extremely alarming and could be catastrophic." "With this one cave containing more than a third of the world's gray bats, all the alarm bells should be going off," said Mollie Matteson, a bat specialist with the Center for Biological Diversity. "White-nose syndrome is now threatening the very survival of the gray bat and several other species."

Gulf St Vincent to be tested to explain dead penguins, fish and dolphins on Adelaide beaches (South Australia, Australia)

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by Adelaide Now - www.adelaidenow.com.au on 4/4/2013 - SWIMMERS and fishers have been reassured that they have nothing to fear from the water in Spencer and St Vincent gulfs in the wake of mass fish and dolphin deaths off the state's coastline. SA Health told The Advertiser algal blooms, found across the state's coastline most likely due to March's prolonged hot weather and heavy winds, did not affect human health in any way....Scientific experts from SA Museum conducted autopsies on two dead dolphins yesterday, but said they were still stumped as to how and why such large numbers died in recent weeks. SA Museum senior researcher of mammals Dr Catherine Kemper said the dolphin samples would be sent to pathology for further analysis. She said preliminary analysis showed one of the dolphins was heavily bruised. "It had lots of bruising on it which means for some reason something bumped it or it bumped itself very badly," she said. Pathology results on a dolphin autopsy conducted last week found E coli near the dolphin's blowhole, which Dr Kemper said was an unusual spot to find the bacteria. Biosecurity SA manager of aquatic pests Vic Neverauskas said yesterday he believed algal blooms were most likely the cause of toxins in the water, which affected the small fish.

Scientists to investigate coral crisis on Kauai's north shore (Hawaii, United States)

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by HawaiiNewsNow - www.hawaiinewsnow.com on 4/2/2013 - Look beneath the surface of Kauai's north shore and you'll see what marine biologists are calling an epidemic. Video taken from Anini on Kauai's northeast coast shows coral covered with white bacteria, which is deteriorating much of the reef. "The disease is a tissue-loss disease," said USGS Wildlife Disease Specialist Thierry Work. "If you look at these corals, they are losing tissues and we think it's associated with a cyanobacteria, which is a type of algae that is eating the coral basically." Marine biologist Terry Lilley started documenting the disease when he noticed how quickly it was spreading. "I went all over the north shore to over 60 different dive sites within 30 days," Lilley said. "Everywhere we went on the north shore, this disease had already killed a lion's share of the reef." The USGS estimates that about six percent of Kauai's reef has been infected. Before scientists can figure out a cure, they need to find what is causing it.

Oily ducks found after thousands of gallons of oil spill in Arkansas (Arkansas, United States)

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by Fox News - www.foxnews.com on 4/2/2013 - The environmental impacts of an oil spill in central Arkansas began to come into focus Monday as officials said a couple of dead ducks and 10 live oily birds were found after an ExxonMobil pipeline ruptured last week....About 12,000 barrels of oil and water have been recovered since ExxonMobil's Pegasus pipeline sprung a leak, spewing oil onto lawns and roadways and nearly fouling a nearby lake. Dodson said he expects a few more oily birds to turn up in the coming days....Investigators are still working to determine what caused the spill, which led authorities to evacuate nearly two dozen homes in a subdivision.

Wildlife officials to euthanize diseased bighorn sheep (Washington, United States)

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by Washington. Department of Fish and Wildlife. on 4/1/2013 - State wildlife officials will take steps this week to curb the spread of a deadly pneumonia outbreak by euthanizing wild bighorn sheep in the Naches area. Biologists with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the U. S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services will spend the next several weeks removing sheep from the Tieton herd, about 10 miles west of Naches. Because most of the sheep are believed to be infected with a disease that causes pneumonia, almost all of the animals will likely need to be euthanized, said Richard Harris, wildlife manager for WDFW. "A majority of the live bighorn sheep spotted during recent surveys looked to be in poor condition, with about a third of those animals coughing or showing other signs of the disease," Harris said. "We hate to have to take this action, but we believe it's necessary to stop the spread of a disease that could devastate adjacent herds of wild bighorn sheep in the area." The disease has already significantly reduced the herd, which is currently estimated at between 35 to 50 animals, said Harris. In recent years, the Tieton herd has numbered as many as 200 animals. So far, no dead or sick bighorn sheep have been found outside the Tieton herd. Earlier this year, wildlife managers received reports of sick and dead sheep along the Tieton River. To date, about 25 dead sheep have been found by WDFW biologists conducting aerial and ground surveys. Carcasses tested at Washington State University's veterinary laboratory were found to have pneumonia, caused by Mycoplasma bacteria.

More Chronic Wasting Disease Found In Missouri Deer (Missouri, United States)

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by KTTS 94.7FM - www.ktts.com on 3/27/2013 - Missouri has confirmed four new cases of chronic wasting disease in deer in a north-central part of the state. The state Conservation Department said Tuesday the four free-ranging deer were among about 100 deer killed in January and February in the 29-square-mile chronic wasting disease core area in Linn and Macon counties.

More Chronic Wasting Disease Found In Missouri Deer (Missouri, United States)

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Late Ontario winter weather starving birds of prey (Ontario, Canada)

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by CBC News - www.cbc.ca on 3/27/2013 - Five emaciated birds found in 24-hour span in Windsor-Essex area. A late winter blast in Southern Ontario has birds of prey scrambling to find food. Several are showing up at bird sanctuaries and animal rescue clinics, weak and emaciated. During a 24-hour span this week, three hawks and two owls were brought to Wings Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in Amherstburg, Ont., south of Windsor. "When February and March come, we see the aftermath of winter," said Nancy Phillips, who cares for the birds. "Because it's been a longer and extended - and unpredictable - winter, we're seeing things come in emaciated. They're on their last reserve of fat. "What happens is, the mouse population is more dormant in the winter. So the birds aren't finding what they need out there." Of the five birds brought to Wings, four survived.

Brevard's manatee, pelican deaths still a mystery: Count rises as algae, parasites get a look (Florida, United States)

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by Florida Today - www.floridatoday.com on 3/26/2013 - The manatees are full of macroalgae; the pelicans packed with parasites. Both continue to die in growing numbers in Brevard County, with potential answers still weeks away. "We're at 80 right now," Kevin Baxter, a spokesman with the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, said Monday of the manatees that have mysteriously died in Brevard since July. That includes 25 carcasses found between March 10 and March 21 alone, Baxter said. The sea cows have been drowning, with signs of shock and intestinal problems. Their carcasses appear otherwise healthy, but their digestive tracts are filled with thick drift algae, also called macroalgae, and not much of their usual seagrass staple diet.

7 eagles believed to have become sick after eating tainted horse meat (Washington, United States)

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by Q13 Fox.com - q13fox.com on 3/26/2013 - A half-dozen bald eagles found close to death in Lewis County are being nursed back to health at the West Sound Wildlife Shelter - and the culprit appears to be tainted horse meat. The birds are believed to have become sick after eating meat from the carcass of a euthanized horse that had been left out in a field.... "When you euthanize a horse, or another animal, they use sodium-phenobarbital and that goes through the entire system. So when a scavenger comes down to eat on that, they're actually ingesting that chemical and it can euthanize them," said Mike Pratt, of the West Sound Wildlife Shelter.

1,000 Dead Ducks Found In China's Nanhe River; Pig Carcass Count Continues To Rise (Tianjin, China)

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by Huffington Post - www.huffingtonpost.com on 3/26/2013 - Chinese authorities have a new mystery to ponder after 1,000 duck carcases were found floating down the Nanhe river in the country's Sichuan province on Tuesday. As with the puzzling count of dead pigs -- now totaling 16,000 -- found in the Huangpu river and its upstream tributaries in the last several weeks, the government has yet to offer an explanation for the phenomenon. Liang Weidong, an official with the county's publicity office, told Xinhua, China's state news agency, the rotten birds had been found tucked into 50 woven plastic bags, from which they were removed before being sanitized and buried.

More Mo. bats diagnosed with deadly disease (Missouri, United States)

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by San Francisco Chronicle - www.sfgate.com on 3/23/2013 - Four more cases of deadly white-nose syndrome have turned up in bats in eastern Missouri. The state Conservation Department says the disease was recently confirmed in a tri-colored bat and a little brown bat found in a public cave in Washington County. A little brown bat and a northern long-eared bat, found in two separate public caves in Franklin County, also had white-nose syndrome.

More Mo. bats diagnosed with deadly disease (Missouri, United States)

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Harbor Porpoise Washes Up on N. Oregon Coast Beach (Oregon, United States)

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by BeachConnection.net - www.beachconnection.net on 3/22/2013 - Staff from Seaside Aquarium responded to a deceased porpoise washing up on the beach of the north Oregon coast town Friday morning, a fairly common occurrence on these beaches but still a somewhat puzzling incident. Seaside Aquarium's Tiffany Boothe said it was a harbor porpoise, a male, and four and a half feet long. It showed up just north of the 12th Ave access. "We do not know the cause of death, however," Boothe said. "The animal has been taken up to Portland State University for further examination."

Feeder birds succumbing to salmonella poisoning (New York, United States)

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 22:00:00 PDT

Published by Buffalo News - www.buffalonews.com on 3/21/2013 - he first message came two weeks ago. "I found six dead redpolls in my back yard," it read. In quick succession, that message was followed by others. Three dead redpolls. A dying pine siskin. More dead and dying redpolls....The report by state pathologist Joe Okoniewski came back: salmonella poisoning. It also noted that similar poisoning of redpolls and siskins has been recorded across the state this winter.