STEPS FOR DEAD BIRD DISPOSAL
If you are disposing of a dead bird, the following steps are recommended. Have these supplies ready prior to picking up the dead bird:
- shovel
- gloves (heavy-duty leak-proof rubber)
- 2 garbage/heavy plastic bags. Have one bag opened.
Use a shovel to pick up the dead bird and place it in double garbage bags, being careful not to puncture the garbage bags. If you can bury the bird close by, carry it over in the shovel without putting it in bags.
Alternately, you could carefully pick up the bird using heavy-duty leak-proof rubber gloves. If gloves are not available for the handling of the carcass, several layers of leak-proof plastic bags may be used as a glove. Grasp the body of the bird (being careful not to grasp the claws or beak) with your hand protected by the two layers of leak-proof plastic bags and then turn the bags inside-out over the bird so the bird is inside the bag with your hand on the outside. Handle the bird so that the beak or claws do not puncture the bags, gloves or your skin.
The plastic bags containing the bird should be closed tightly.
Place the bagged bird in a garage can to be taken to the sanitary landfill (dump). Do not dispose of it in a way that it will be handled by other people or exposed to other wildlife. In areas with no landfill, birds should be buried deep enough so as not to be disturbed by wild animals.
If your gloves are the re-usable type, wash your gloved hands with soap and water before taking them off. Then wash your hands with soap and water. If a shovel is used, wash the shovel with warm soapy water and expose to sunlight.
If you wish to submit a dead bird for testing ...
The Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre operates a general wildlife disease surveillance program yearly, which has been active since 1992. The 2007 Wild Bird Influenza Survey accepts all species of birds found dead.
Fresh dead wild birds can be dropped off at your local Saskatchewan Environment field office for disease screening. Saskatchewan Environment officials will not go out to collect dead birds.
If handling dead birds, follow the steps for disposal (above). Ensure that you and your clothing do not contact the bird or its blood, secretions or feces. Birds should be double bagged using clean garbage bags, sealed and kept cool or frozen until they can be dropped off at a Saskatchewan Environment office. Wash your gloves and hands afterward. While it is important to remember that there is very low risk of contracting avian influenza without having direct, significant and prolonged contact with infected birds, the instructions for handling dead birds will help minimize the risk even further.
In Saskatoon, dead birds can be submitted directly to the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre situated at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, 52 Campus Drive. If you require more information on handling or disposal of dead birds or if you have questions about the avian influenza screening program please call the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre at 1-800-567-2033 or 306-966-5815. Concerns regarding human health and avian influenza should be directed to your regional public health office.
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