Links to the Breadcrumb trail
- Local news
The Meewasin Valley Authority is urging visitors not to hand-feed chicken or birds that use their own seeds in the popular park 13 km south of Saskatoon.
Publication date:
April 23, 2022 • 46 minutes ago • Read in 1 minute • Join the conversation A very popular family activity – manual feeding of chicks – is no longer allowed in the protected area of Beaver Creek due to the spread of avian influenza in the countryside. Photo by Kim Stalknecht / Province
Content of the article
A much-loved family activity – hand-feeding chickens – is no longer allowed in the Beaver Creek protected area due to the spread of avian influenza in the countryside.
Although there is no risk to humans from the disease, it can be devastating to bird populations.
The Meevasin Valley administration said in a press release that it was urging visitors not to hand-feed chickens – or any birds using their own seeds – in the popular park, 13km south of Saskatoon. The area’s website says visitors will be able to interact with chickens in feeders located throughout the site.
Environmentalists in Saskatchewan said this week that there are already signs of its spread among the hundreds of bird species that define the province’s forests, pastures and skies.
A volunteer from the Saskatchewan Wildlife Rescue Society discovered the first bird confirmed to be infected with bird flu – a snow goose near Elrose on April 8.
Since then, there have been cases of magpies, birds of prey, bald eagles, other hawks and even pigeons in the southern half of the province. Conservationists expect it to continue to spread north as birds make their annual journey home from the south.
The fear is that the virus will invade vulnerable and endangered species, such as donkey cranes or capercaillies, whose populations may not recover easily.
Content of the article
We apologize, but this video failed to load.
With files from Zac Vescera, Saskatoon StarPhoenix
The news seems to be flying faster all the time. From updates to COVID-19 to politics and crime and everything in between, it can be difficult to maintain. With that in mind, Saskatoon StarPhoenix has created an afternoon newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox to make sure you’re up to date with the most important news of the day. Click here to subscribe.
Add Comment