>There is an interesting and sad article in todays Seattle Times (page B6) on
>Donald Kerr, founder of the High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon. The article
>says he is suffering from viral encephalitis which was likely caused by cuts
>received from the talons of a Great Horned Owl...the talons possibly having
>contaminated blood on them. The man is seriously ill and that is indeed most
>tragic. It makes me wonder if this method of viral transmission has occurred
>before, and if those who regularly handle birds of prey are aware of this
>potential.

I've heard this story, too, a while ago. I don't believe this potential
is widely known, at least among raptor banders. Raptor handlers are
frequently cut by talons, it is unavoidable when removing them from
mistnets on a regular basis. Experienced folks like myself may only
get footed very occasionally, but it does happen. I'd estimate that
perhaps 5% of the raptors we catch have noticable dried blood on their
talons, so combining the two low probabilities means the potential
for exposure to blood is quite low. Then, factor in the presumably
low frequency of contamination of blood of prey, and odds drop
further. Still greater than zero, though!

Does anyone know if this virus survives the drying of blood? I've
never caught a raptor with wet blood from prey on their talons.

I presume transmission must be extremely rare even if it has happened
before. I've never met anyone who's contracted any illness from
being footed, though I know one person who nearly died from psitticosis
contracted from pigeons, which are used as lure birds by raptor banders.

- Don Baccus, Portland OR <donb at rational.com>
Nature photos, on-line guides, at http://www.xxxpdx.com/~dhogaza