Soarin’ Hawk Raptor Rehabilitation Center, located in Huntertown, Indiana, has made significant changes to its operations following a suspected case of bird flu in one of its rescued animals. This precautionary move comes after a bird was brought to the center last week, displaying symptoms of the highly contagious disease.
A Suspected Case of Bird Flu
The rescued bird, which was showing signs consistent with bird flu, was immediately tested by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Unfortunately, the bird had to be euthanized, and the results of the test are still pending. Given the severity of the situation, the organization decided to take swift action to prevent further spread of the disease, especially among its other rescued birds.
New Protocols to Protect the Birds
In response to the recent rise in bird flu cases, Soarin’ Hawk has implemented a series of precautionary measures. One of the key changes includes keeping the center’s educational birds separate from the rehab birds. This is to prevent any potential cross-contamination, as the educational birds are more vulnerable to illness.
Additionally, staff members who move between the two areas are now required to change their clothes in order to reduce the risk of transmitting any pathogens.
“Our goal is to protect our educational birds from getting sick. We bring in a lot of rehab birds, birds that go directly into our ICU right now, through this door,” said Gigi Stewart, volunteer coordinator for the center. “Everything that has to do with rehabs goes through this door right into our ICU.”
Educational bird tasks are now performed from a separate kitchen door to minimize contact between the two groups.
The Ongoing Threat of Bird Flu
The recent spike in bird flu cases has raised concerns among wildlife and animal rehabilitation centers. The disease poses a significant threat, especially to raptors, which are often brought in for rehabilitation. Soarin’ Hawk is taking all necessary precautions to ensure the health and safety of its animals and staff, including increased monitoring and enhanced hygiene protocols.
