CHARLESTON, S.C. — Wildlife officials in Charleston suspect avian influenza is behind a run of dead Canada geese turning up at ponds in North Charleston and Mount Pleasant, and they are testing one of the birds to pin down the cause.
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources said Thursday it is looking into the die-off but has not yet confirmed what killed the birds. Flu viruses of this kind circulate on their own among wild flocks throughout the continent, the agency said, and infections often climb as migrating birds move through each fall, as they are doing now.
The first sign came Monday, Oct. 19, when North Charleston collected the carcasses of a number of geese and ducks from Quarterman Park. Across the harbor, Mount Pleasant has logged dead birds in neighborhoods including Park West, Watermark Drive and The Meridian. The count of sick birds stands near 20 in Mount Pleasant, with 11 more on the North Charleston side.
The department is asking people to leave wild birds alone, whether sick or dead, and to keep dogs and other pets away from them. Anyone who spots a bird that appears sick should call local animal control, and owners of backyard chickens are advised to watch their flocks for illness.
Human infections are possible but very rare. The agency said it will keep monitoring the situation.
Filed under: Charleston SC Health News
