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Logan – A homeowner in Cache County hopes to resolve a potential bird flu risk in his backyard while warning others of the potential dangers.
Bruce Jorgensen said the turkey vultures that have lived in the tall trees behind his Logan house for more than a decade have always left a big mess.
“They shit a lot,” he said with a shrug on Monday. “It used to be painful, but this year it has become a biohazard.”
Jorgensen said he was already aware of the bird flu outbreak when he found two dead birds on his property last week. He said tests later showed that the deceased turkey vultures had the disease.
According to Jorgensen, wildlife and health officials warned him not to touch any of the birds and gave him instructions on how to reduce risks to the property.
However, because turkey vultures are considered protected wildlife, and under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Authority, a spokesman for the Utah Department of Wildlife Resources emphasized that officers cannot remove the birds and can only suggest how to “mist” them from the trees. and sometimes help with this process.
“Yeah, put on the balloons,” Jorgensen nodded.
He said he bought two pairs, one of which said “I’m sorry” and shot them into the trees to no avail.
“There’s no point in putting a balloon so high in the forest and letting it magically stay there to scare the birds away,” Jorgensen said.
As many as thirty turkey vultures called trees home. Although he routinely and carefully cleaned his backyard, much of the area under the trees was still littered with bird droppings Monday night.
Since bird flu is often transmitted through feces, Jorgensen has expressed concern about the ongoing health risks.
“Wherever I look, there are fecal stains and the smell of Clorox,” he said.
Utah Department of Health guidelines state that while the current form of bird flu poses a “low risk” to humans, it is still transmissible to humans, as shown by a recent case in Colorado.
The band urged people not to touch dead birds if they see them. If they saw a group of dead birds — five or more — including waterfowl, shorebirds, wild turkeys, quail, raptors and litter near waterfowl habitats, those people should call their local DWR office or call 801-538-4700.
Additionally Guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention It contains more information about what to do to stay safe.
“My preferred option is to euthanize them,” Jorgensen said. “I don’t know if you can come downtown Logan and shoot them.”
With the birds’ protected status, Jorgensen said, he wasn’t sure of a solution, but he hoped one would come.
“Everywhere they are, they pollute,” Jorgensen said.
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