I just got this message from a friend doing some good work in British Columbia:
Hello, my name is Joel Feenstra, and I am a member of Ridgedale Rod and Gun Club and a former member of the Chilliwack Rod and Gun Club.
I am gathering information about diseases in the wild, and would like to be notified about any health issues among wild animals observed by any of you. This Study is being done by researchers at the University of British Columbia, and after being contacted by them, I agreed to be a liason between them and any members of the club interested in helping.
We’ve all heard about Tuberculosis, CWD, trichinosis, and a myriad of other diseases that can affect our wild animal stocks. But these can be difficult to detect in the wild, and there is a need for people who spend time out in the woods who can identify and report outbreaks.
This study is only looking at Birds and Mammals, and so any unusual occurrences in these animals are what the scientists are looking for. The animal does not have to be dead to be reported, and reports can be made about animals you have just observed. If you do kill an animal, you can see if it has worms or liverspots.
– This is what we’re looking for:
– Any Wild birds or mammal showing obvious signs of disease
– Any unusual herd declines or behaviour.
– We need to know the location( precise is best, but if it’s a jealously guarded spot, just the nearest logging road or other landmark)
– We are not taking any physical samples, just reports.
– Signs to look for are…
– malnourishment, patchy hair or feathers, odd behaviour, worms, liverspotting, lesions or tumours, etc.
If you can, call or email me to report. You can call me directly on my Cell phone, at 604-835-8986 or email me at redthornboards@hotmail.com.
Even just a vague “ I watched a cow elk who looked otherwise healthy, but was very listless and slow compared to the rest of the herd and was always lagging behind...” is a valid report. We are only looking for signs that might suggest sickness, not concrete proof.
Your Help in this is appreciated. If you have any questions, please contact me via the info provided.
Thanks again. Joel Feenstra