KUNA, Idaho (CBS2) — Forensic testing by Fish and Game has found a cause of recent die offs in Kuna birds.
Several dead birds from the area have been tested and the tests have pinpointed the cause of death as pigeon paramyxovirus, a strain of paramyxovirus that is common to pigeons and doves.
Similar dove die offs were recently reported in Idaho City and a large pigeon die off was reported in Mountain Home this summer due to a different strain of paramyxovirus.
People should wear rubber gloves or use plastic bags to handle the carcasses, which can be disposed of with other household trash.
"The disease poses no health risk to humans or pets, but can impact other domestic poultry. Persons with backyard chickens are encouraged to keep their birds isolated from wild doves and pigeons and not feed chickens in areas frequented by wild doves or pigeons," says Idaho Fish and Game.
Idaho Fish and Game says upland hunters should avoid harvesting any live birds found on the ground that appear weak or sick. They say while there is no risk to humans or pets, birds infected with the virus could have other diseases as well.
Bird feeders in Kuna should also stop feeding the birds to prevent the transmissions of the virus to other birds F&G says.
"All persons feeding birds should practice good feeder hygiene, which includes removing waste, or excess feed, every week, cleaning feeders and feeding areas using a 10-percent bleach solution followed by rinsing in clean water, and also maintaining any watering areas in clean condition," says Idaho Fish and Game.
People noticing multiple dead pigeons or doves at, or near, bird feeders can report the occurrence online. Because Fish and Game staff are aware of the outbreak, no follow-up calls will be made.
Fish and Game says bird virus outbreaks are occasionally seen in Idaho, they tend to be localized, affect a relatively small number of birds, and are short lived.
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