Local grouse numbers having stayed down for a very long time, and having seen what West Nile virus did to the crow and blue jay populations (it clobbered them, especially the crows), I've long been wondering if the ruffed grouse here in Eastern Ontario were being affected in the same way. Well, the latest issue of Ontario Out Of Doors magazine (April 2021) has an article on page 14 stating the virus is showing up in birds in both Ontario and Quebec, but mostly in Ontario. Across the survey, 10.3% of grouse were found to have it, representing 49 out of 473 birds. The effect on the population numbers doesn't seem to be known, but it's easy to speculate that numbers will be affected until the birds become naturally resistant to it (as has happened with jays and crows, which are becoming common again).
The article is a little vague about the actual numbers for WNV in turkeys, but says the researchers were surprised by its prevalence in their population, but also that they do not seem to be susceptible to dying from it.
The article goes on to say that there is no evidence of human infection resulting from handling the birds, which is normally spread by mosquitos, but WNV is blood borne and I would say a little extra caution in cleaning and handling them is in order (which I already exercise anyway, thanks to the possible presence of ticks that carry Lyme disease). And of course cooking will eliminate any risk that might come from eating them.
The article is a little vague about the actual numbers for WNV in turkeys, but says the researchers were surprised by its prevalence in their population, but also that they do not seem to be susceptible to dying from it.
The article goes on to say that there is no evidence of human infection resulting from handling the birds, which is normally spread by mosquitos, but WNV is blood borne and I would say a little extra caution in cleaning and handling them is in order (which I already exercise anyway, thanks to the possible presence of ticks that carry Lyme disease). And of course cooking will eliminate any risk that might come from eating them.
