In a nationwide effort to monitor a dangerous strain of avian flu, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is collecting waterfowl samples. It’s a smart call by wildlife officials who want to stay on top of something like the highly pathogenic Asian strain of H5N1 avian influenza.
The state’s biologists are working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Virginia office, collecting shorebirds, ducks, swans and geese to see whether the dreaded avian flu is present in any of the sampled birds.
Virginia already has checked and will continue to monitor tundra swans, mute swans, snow geese, Atlantic brant and mallards. The VDGIF says those species in particular are being selected because of their potential migration routes, which can span the entire continent. Biologists also have to be mindful of any resident species that might be in contact with migrants that come here from as far away as Alaska, Greenland and other areas frequented by migratory birds.
The samples come from live-trap efforts and from birds legally taken by hunters.
Apparently, low pathogenic strains of avian flu are not uncommon in some wild bird populations, especially waterfowl and wading birds. The low strains of this flu are not a risk to humans, nor can signs of infection be easily noticed. However, the alarmingly high pathogenic Asian strain of H5N1 can be devastating to bird populations. The H5N1 strain can cause illness and death among the birds and at least in parts of Asia has been blamed on a number of human deaths.
Too many geese — Since federal wildlife managers have agreed there are instances when the overpopulation of Canada geese needs to be controlled, the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners recently gave preliminary approval to take care of problem geese on private property and certain public lands.
If approved, landowners and public land managers and their employees who are registered with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service will be allowed to addle eggs and destroy nests of resident Canadas sometime in January. It must be shown that the problem geese might injure people or damage agricultural crops and other property, such as golf courses, neighborhood greenways and man-made ponds. Goose control activities will be allowed from March 1 until June 30.
Snakehead expert to speak — John Odenkirk, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries biologist who is nationally known for his ongoing work with the Northern snakehead fish that have taken hold in several of the tidal Potomac River’s feeder creeks, will be the guest speaker at the Dec. 14 meeting of the New Horizon Bass Anglers. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at Neighbor’s Sports Bar & Restaurant, 262D Cedar Lane, Vienna, Va. Admission is free. For more information, call Charlie Taylor, 703/887-8399.
Win a fly-fishing trip — Chris Santella is the author of “Fifty Places To Fly Fish Before You Die,” “Fifty Places To Play Golf Before You Die” and, most recently, “Fifty Favorite Fly-Fishing Tales,” published by Stewart, Tabori & Chang — who have mandated that each book must contain the word “Fifty” in the title.
Santella says his “Fifty Favorite Fly-Fishing Tales” includes stories from business and sports heavyweights like Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel; Perk Perkins, CEO of Orvis; and Masters champion Mark O’Meara. You will not see tales of the biggest fish ever caught but instead be treated to delightful fresh and saltwater stories about friends lost or stuck in deep mud, hippos hooked with large pink flies, suddenly awakened grizzly bears, $100 bills turning up on a river bed and more.
To promote the book, the publisher is sponsoring a “Fish Story To Reel in all Fish Stories Contest.” Readers are invited to submit a favorite fly-fishing story (500 words or less). The winner will receive a fly-fishing outing to the Big Hole Lodge in Montana. Details are available at www.hnabooks.com/page/stc_w_flyfishing_contest.
• Look for Gene Mueller’s Outdoors column Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday, only in The Washington Times. E-mail: gmueller@washingtontimes.com.
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