[SEMCO] Immediate Release - Wild Care Releases Three Survivors of Mysterious Bird Illness (Northern Gannets)

Tue Jul 11 15:21:33 EDT 2017

[image: Inline image 3]July 11, 2017

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:          Stephanie Ellis, Executive Director, WILD CARE Inc.

            Cell Phone (650)-319-5491, stephanie at wildcarecapecod.org

            Photos - attached. More available by request. Credit Leo
Seletsky, Wild Care, Inc.

*Wild Care, Inc. Releases Three Survivors of Mysterious Bird Illness*

*Eastham, MA., July 11, 2017 -  *Wild Care, Inc., a wildlife rescue and
rehabilitation center in Eastham, successfully released the only three
surviving Northern Gannets of a recent die-off that struck Cape Cod and the
South Shore of Massachusetts beginning this spring.

Since May, 2017, dozens of Northern Gannets have washed ashore deceased or
exhibiting severe neurological symptoms. Beachgoers, Cape Cod National
Seashore Rangers, and Wild Care staff and volunteers collected 23 Northern
Gannets and brought them to Wild Care for treatment since January. Many of
these birds arrived between May and June showing signs of this unknown
illness.

“They were unable to hold up their heads, and had tremors. They could not
control their body movements,” stated Stephanie Ellis, Wild Care Executive
Director. “To us, this suggests a toxin or head trauma. Birds with a
long-term illness or injury often stop feeding and are emaciated when they
wash ashore. The majority of these neurological gannets were within normal
weight range and their blood work appeared normal,” Ellis said. “Whatever
was impacting them was affecting them very quickly.”

On July 5th, Wild Care Animal Care Coordinator, Jennifer Taylor released
the only three survivors of the die-off. The three gannets had been at Wild
Care since early May, receiving intensive care. They were released on Snow
Shore in Orleans. “We generally release these birds offshore, into their
natural habitat. We decided to release the birds from shore in case they
got into trouble, they could then swim to shore where we could rescue them
easily,” states Jennifer.   “Fortunately, they all went out to sea and did
not come back to shore. The juvenile, and one adult stayed with each other and
did lots of the bouncy-fluttering in the water. They looked SO HAPPY.”

Wild Care worked closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the
Cape Wildlife Center of Barnstable to help determine the cause of the
die-off, and determine effective treatment protocols. USDA Wildlife Technician
Ryan Bevilacqua said his agency sent tissue, blood and other samples taken
from dead birds to the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study at
the University of Georgia veterinary medicine program. Analysis has ruled
out avian flu, but all other results are pending. Red Tide is suspect.

“Three surviving birds is better than no surviving birds,” states Ellis.
“Even though we lost many, there is much to learn from even the deceased
birds. Our experience will help us to treat birds in the future when we see
similar ailments. It is very challenging to treat the unknown. We are
delighted to have pulled these three birds through their illness.”

WILD CARE’s wildlife rehabilitator's treat birds, mammals and reptiles
brought to the center, with the goal of releasing them back into the wild
when they are capable of independent survival. Through public education,
WILD CARE works to prevent wildlife casualties and works to engage the
community in conservation through volunteerism. Since our founding WILD
CARE has accepted over 25,000 wild creatures, representing over 275 species
of native birds, mammals and reptiles. If you encounter injured, orphaned
or ill wildlife please call the WILD CARE of Cape Cod helpline at
508-240-2255. Visit WILD CARE’s website at www.wildcarecapecod.org to make
a donation.

 [image: Inline image 2][image: Inline image 1]

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Stephanie Ellis
Executive Director
Wild Care, Inc.
10 Smith Lane
Eastham, MA 02642
www.wildcarecapecod.org

Find us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/WildCareCapeCod
508-240-2255 office
<http://www.wildcarecapecod.org/>

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