Once upon a time in California, there was a serious bird problem. It turns out that these little feathered creatures were carrying something called salmonella, which made people sick. Yikes! It all started when the California Department of Fish and Wildlife noticed that pine siskins, these cute birds with brown and yellow streaks, were getting sick.
In fact, many of them were dying because of salmonella.
People were finding them left and right and freaked out, so they started calling the wildlife centers for help. But here's the thing, this outbreak didn't just affect the pine siskins. Even American goldfinches and lesser goldfinches were getting sick too.
It was a full-blown bird epidemic! The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) had to step in and warn everyone about the danger. Turns out, this salmonella bacteria spreads like wildfire,
passing from birds to pets and even to humans. So far, eight states have reported human illnesses, with some people needing to be hospitalized. It's serious stuff! But fear not, fellow bird lovers!
The CDC has some tips to help us protect ourselves and our adorable little friends. First and foremost, we need to keep our wild bird feeders clean. That means washing them with hot soapy water and disinfecting them with a water-bleach solution.
The article is not finished. Click on the next page to continue.
The article is not finished. Click on the next page to continue.
Next page
