SPCA Advises Removing Bird Feeders, Bird Baths Through April
The Central Coast, Northern California, Oregon, and Washington are experiencing a salmonellosis outbreak in migrating Pine Siskins This bacterial pathogen is lethal for these small birds. Bird feeders are the primary source of transmission for the disease. Sadly, many Pine Siskins exposed to the bacteria at bird feeders have succumbed to salmonellosis this winter here on the Central Coast.
Most of the affected birds are Pine Siskins, small, heavily streaked, yellow-accented finches, but Lesser Goldfinch and other finch species can fall victim to salmonellosis as well. While more rare, this disease can also transmit to outdoor cats.
The bacteria are spread through droppings, especially where bird seed piles up beneath feeders or in-tray feeders where the birds can simply stand among the seeds.
Community members can help stop the spread of salmonellosis by discontinuing backyard bird feeding and remove backyard bird baths through April, to encourage these birds to disperse and forage naturally. Pine Siskins migrate and will move on from our area in March and April.
Infected individuals will appear lethargic, puffed or fluffed-up, with eyes partially closed. Their eyes may also appear swollen, red, or irritated. If you see a sick bird or any injured or orphaned wild animal, please contact the SPCA Wildlife Center for help.
The SPCA Wildlife Center is available for emergency wildlife rescues 24 hours a day. To support our work, please visit www.SPCAmc.org/donate. To report injured, sick, or orphaned wildlife in Monterey County, please call 831-264-5427.
The SPCA Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center is the only full service wildlife rehabilitation center serving Monterey County. We operate under permits from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Your support is extremely important to us, as we do not receive funding from any federal, state or local government agency. Each year, The SPCA Wildlife Center admits over 2,000 animals for treatment and care.
SPCA Monterey County is your nonprofit, independent, donor-supported humane society that has been serving the animals and people of Monterey County since 1905. The SPCA is not a chapter of any other agency and does not have a parent organization. They shelter homeless, neglected and abused pets and livestock, and provide humane education and countless other services to the community. They are the local agency you call to investigate animal cruelty, rescue and rehabilitate injured wildlife, and aid domestic animals in distress.
