Canada has seen a limited number of cases of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of bird flu so far this year, said Dr. Shayan Sharif, professor and associate rector at the Ontario College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Guelph. But “we have to make sure that the virus is contained very effectively and with great success at this time,” he said. The virus rarely infects humans. However, it can make birds very sick, causing anything from coughing and sneezing to erratic behavior.
The goose taken from the shore of the Rido River came out positive
Last week, a volunteer with the Safe Wings Ottawa Bird Rescue Team confirmed a passerby report of a disoriented goose on the Rideau River near the Billings Bridge.
“Given that he was out of balance, he had neurological symptoms … we thought it would be very wise to call the Canadian Wildlife Service,” said Anouk Hoedeman, co-founder and co-ordinator of Safe Wings.
Duck and goose mill on the shore near the Billings Bridge over the Rideau River on February 21, 2022. (Guy Quenneville / CBC)
The Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative has confirmed that the goose was infected with the H5N1 strain. A Kingston duck, a red-tailed hawk from New Hamburg, OD, and a red peasant from Point Pelee National Park have also tested positive for the strain over the past two weeks.
While bird flu cases are detected each year, they are usually of a low pathogenic type, in contrast to the strain that currently strikes Canada and other parts of the world, said Brian Stevens, a wildlife physician for the cooperative’s Ontario office.
“This actually causes serious illness and the death of wild birds in large numbers, something we have not seen before,” Stevens said.
Brian Stevens is a wildlife physician for the Canadian Wildlife Health Association. (CBC)
There have been major cases and “losses” in Europe and Africa and recent reports of wild bird deaths as a direct result of the virus in North America, Stevens continued.
“Whenever we have an extremely pathogenic strain, there is always the concern that it could jump into both commercial poultry herds and yards.”
Contaminated site north of Peterborough among those in quarantine
The Canadian Food and Drug Administration has already quarantined three commercial turkey farms in Ontario and two herds in the county, including one north of Peterborough, OD, after animals at each site became infected with the strain.
The agency – which has called the bird flu a “major national concern as birds migrate to Canada” – maintains an up-to-date list of affected areas.
Farmers in the county are “absolutely worried”, although they have not yet worried, about the current workload, said Lisa Bishop, brand and communications director at Chicken Farms in Canada.
“Once you start to see it landing on a commercial enterprise, it means it is time to renew or redouble your biosafety efforts,” he said, citing measures such as enhanced disinfection.
Farms with infected herds generally see these animals being killed, he added.
“It’s very stressful,” Bishop said of the impact on farmers, who fear a worse scenario than in 2004, when Britain’s poultry industry was wiped out by bird flu.
Worry about injured birds left behind
Safe Wings is concerned that the current state of high alert could affect local wildlife care efforts, Hoedeman said. As of March 31, the Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Center – which accepts birds that have been hit by vehicles – does not accept temporarily injured or sick waterfowl or dead birds of any kind due to H5N1 cases, according to its website. Instead, people are encouraged to invite the cooperative. “We do not want the public to handle them alone,” Hudemann said. “But you also do not want to leave birds that are clearly injured and suffering.” Hoedeman said she hopes the city of Ottawa or the Ottawa Humanitarian Society may be able to help in some cases. If you come across a sick or dead wild bird, contact the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative by phone (866-673-4781) or report it online at
