Tweeters: This news release (below) was issued yesterday.

Franny Drobny
Seattle, WA
fdrobny at williamskastner.com

WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/ <javascript:ol('http://wdfw.wa.gov/');>
<http://wdfw.wa.gov/ <javascript:ol('http://wdfw.wa.gov/');>

October 11, 2007
Contact: Kristin Mansfield, (509) 892-1001, ext. 326

Call toll-free line to report dead wild birds

OLYMPIA - With the annual wild bird migration under way, the Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) reminds people to report dead
wild birds
on a toll-free telephone line.

"We continue to test birds for the highly pathogenic form of avian
influenza,
and this reporting tool contributes to that surveillance effort," said
Dr.
Kristin Mansfield, WDFW veterinarian.

Wild birds are known to carry various strains of avian influenza, often
without
serious health effects. However, one strain, known as Highly Pathogenic
Avian
Influenza H5N1 (HPAI H5N1), has sickened and killed birds in Asia,
Europe and
Africa.

No birds in Washington have tested positive for the highly pathogenic
avian
influenza, Mansfield said. Over the past year, WDFW, the U.S. Department
of
Agriculture and other agencies and organizations have tested more than
4,000
birds in Washington.

Most dead bird reports can be submitted by calling WDFW's toll-free line
at
1-800-606-8768. The exceptions are dead crows, ravens, magpies and jays,
which
should be reported to local city or county health departments that are
tracking
those species for West Nile virus.

Callers to WDFW's reporting line will be asked to leave their name,
telephone
number, the date and time of the call, the number of dead birds they are
reporting, the specific location of the birds and - if known - the
species and
approximately how long the birds have been dead.

"We're mainly interested in looking at migratory waterfowl and other
waterbirds
because those are the species that have tested positive for the highly
pathogenic strain of the avian influenza virus elsewhere in the world,"
said
Mansfield.

Reports will be reviewed by WDFW wildlife experts, who will respond as
needed.
The bird species and the apparent circumstances of its death will
determine
whether a dead bird is tested for avian influenza, said Mansfield.
Recently
deceased waterfowl, such as ducks, geese and swans, are the birds most
likely to
be tested. Birds that die because they flew into a window or were hit by
a car
do not warrant reports, she said.

While wild bird die-offs occur naturally each year, the department plans
to
investigate large or unusual events, Mansfield said.

As a standard safety precaution for protection from various diseases
carried by
wildlife, people should not handle dead wild birds with bare hands or
transport
them. Those who choose to bury or dispose of dead birds that are not
needed for
disease testing are advised to wear rubber gloves or use a long-handled
shovel,
and to clean hands and tools with soap and water or alcohol wipes
afterward.

For more information on avian influenza visit WDFW's website at
http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/avian_flu/index.htm
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