DEVASTATING VIRUS SPREADS

Infection recorded in small mammals. 

Avian flu is likely to be on the increase again in the coming months with wild birds arriving in the county. 

Devastating effects of the disease have already been seen across the county including Charnwood’s wildlife parks and reserves such as Watermead and Cossington Meadows. 

The spring visitors to Leicestershire are very likely to trigger new outbreaks with infection now detected in small animals such as rodents. 

The current bird flu epidemic is reported to have infected small mammals including otters and foxes although most of these cases were first seen last year.  

However it seems cross – contamination is occurring in predatory birds such as kestrels and owls catching small mammals such as mice and voles that picked up the virus from poultry farms.    

Birds had to be extensively culled at a poultry farm in Barrow – Upon – Soar following an outbreak. 

Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust is asking the government to take immediate action including developing a national strategy to help wild bird populations recover and give clear guidance on wild bird carcass removal and disposal in high-risk areas. 

The disease has now established itself in many parts of the country with outbreaks continuing throughout winter. 

Originating from intensive poultry farms in Asia 65 species have been affected in Britain.  

On St Kilda alone, avian flu has already claimed the lives of 120 great skuas and is threatening many more, which is especially concerning given that there are only an estimated 16,000 great skuas left worldwide. Coquet Island, home to the UK’s only colony of roseate terns, has been devastated by the virus. Two thirds of the roseate tern chicks have already been lost, as well as many Sandwich, Arctic, and common terns. Many other bird species have also been affected, including gannets, guillemots, and eider ducks.   On the Solway Firth about 16, 000 barnacle died last winter. 

Conservation concerns around the effects on threatened and endangered species such as the white – tailed eagles and hen harriers are part of the pressure currently on British wild birds particularly sea birds some of which only breed every four or five years and are already suffering from climate change, commercial development of coastal areas and large – scale fishing of sand eels, an important food.