Towheeblog

Vradenburg, John	6:21 AM (3 hours ago)
to John, me

Here is direct answer to my question about what is killing waterfowl now at Tule Lake NWR:

Harry,
We have been dealing with a cholera outbreak at Tule Lake NWR since mid-January.  We have been trying to keep up with the removal of dead birds but have been compromised by poor weather conditions on many of the days.  To date all mortalities have been attributed to cholera and several dead birds have been sent out for testing which confirmed cholera.

–John Vradenburg, US Fish & Wildlife

There was a botulism outbreak last year in warm days of later summer. autumn but the crowded conditions now are hospitable to avian cholera. Our species is not in serious danger unless a pet dog eats dead goose and then bites owner: “Avian cholera can only be transmitted to humans through secondary contact, such as a bite from a pet that has ingested body fluids from an infected duck. But the infection would be no different than that of any bite.”

Cholera is caused by bacterium Pasteurella multocida.
Snow Geese may be a long-term reservoir for the bacterium and those prone to being center of outbreaks which are most common in wetlands. Some raptors get the disease along with waterfowl and shorebirds.

There is evidence that Bald Eagles are susceptible. Apparently Turkey Vultures are not prone to the disease. Click here for summary of victims, carriers and states where cholera is worst–California and Oregon are both high on the cholera outbreak list, sadly.