Jane Sproull Thomson
Special to Black Press
In light of the recent confirmed case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a poultry flock in the Comox Valley, we have made the incredibly difficult decision to close our Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society Visitor Centre and gift shop temporarily.
Our priority is our commitment to the safety and well-being of our resident ambassador birds (eagles, owls, and crows) and wildlife patients and we hope that this additional precautionary measure will help reduce the risk of on-site transmission of the virus. We plan to continue to educate and engage the public in a variety of ways, so stay tuned for updates!
The Wildlife Hospital remains open, but the temporary closure of our visitor centre will drastically reduce our funds at a time when they are most needed. It is “baby season” at MARS and the influx of injured and orphaned baby birds, raccoon kits, and other small mammals has begun. Our biggest expenses at this time of year are typically food and nursery supplies, but we also need to purchase additional personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies to combat HPAI.
We hope to be able to reopen our visitor centre to the public soon, but in the meantime we are calling on our supporters for help. Any contribution you can make to our animal care fund would be very much appreciated. If you can support us, please visit marswildliferescue.com/ways-to-give/
Some updates to our HPAI prevention protocols are outlined below.
• We have increased biosecurity measures for the MARS site. This includes sanitizing footbaths, a separate patient admission building, quarantine zones for different species, and covering the ambassador enclosures. Our infection control plan will be available on our website soon.
• If you are bringing an injured animal or donation to MARS, please remain in your vehicle. Call the hospital at 250-337-2021 ext. 0 to speak to rehab staff. The staff will come retrieve the animal or donation from your vehicle.
• Do not bring deceased wild birds to MARS. Please call MARS at 250-337-2021 for guidance. You can also report suspicious bird deaths to the bird hotline: 1-866-431-BIRD (2473).
• We are currently unable to accept donations of poultry, waterfowl, or eggs as food for the animals.
To learn more about the clinical signs of this virus, please visit marswildliferescue.com/avian-influenza-hpai/
Jane Sproull Thomson is a volunteer at the Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society