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E
very year, children become ill with
Salmonella poisoning from handling
baby ducks and chicks, typically
sold only during Easter. Not only
is there potential harm to children
from this tradition, but environmental
havoc as well. Domestic ducks released
into public parks, can transmit
diseases to wild flocks. Animal
shelters, stretched to their limits
with unwanted dogs and cats, become
overwhelmed with rabbits when the
novelty wears off and reality sets
in.
“Not only is cruel for these
baby animals to be sold without
any regard for proper care, but
it creates tremendous problems later,
when the animals that do survive
are either “dumped”
in public parks or dropped off at
local animal shelters”, said
Karen Benzel, Public Affairs Director
for International Bird Rescue Research
Center. “This is a public
education issue, and the media can
perform a tremendous public benefit
by reporting on the serious consequences
that can occur when baby animals
are purchased on impulse.”
The ducklings that are sold at Easter
are domestic ducks that cannot fly,
and cannot “fend for themselves.”
They can and do carry diseases that
endanger wild ducks and geese. In
1993, an outbreak of duck plague,
duck virus enteritis (DVE), occurred
when an infected domestic duck was
released into the canals in Venice,
California. Hundreds of birds were
killed by wildlife authorities to
prevent the virus from spreading.
Domestic ducks also mate with wild
ducks, creating hybrids. Wildlife
rescue centers don’t typically
take these hybrids, and animal shelters
are not equipped to handle waterfowl.
The CDC has issued an alert warning
that “bacteria carried in
the chicks and duckling’s
intestine contaminates their environment
and the entire surface of the animal.
Children can be exposed to the bacteria
by simply holding, cuddling, or
kissing the birds. Others at increased
risk include persons with HIV/AIDS,
pregnant women, the elderly and
other immunocompromised persons.”
For the complete article
“No
Escape From Harsh Reality,”
which explains in detail the differences
between domestic and wild ducks
and the issues domestic ducks face
when forced to “fend for themselves”
please go to IBRRC's website.
More information:
DVE outbreak details
at: http://home.att.net/%7Ecgbraggjr/v17n7.htm
CDC complete alert: http://communitydispatch.com/artman/publish/article_598.shtml
Return
to list of press releases
Media contact:
Karen Benzel, Public
Affairs Director (IBRRC), karen@ibrrc.org
Office: (831) 622-7588
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