Turkeys sick with pox again!
Another year of sick birds near Fenelon Falls/Burnt River. We have 12 birds that frequent the yard around the house. 11 are toms and one is a small hen. Three of the twelve birds are badly infected with either avian pox or LPD. Heads totally crusted over and oozing (looks like a terminal case of sarcoptic mange that you see on foxes and coyote). One bird is so badly deformed its one eye is occluded by the warty masses and it must have the tracheal/mouth sores as well as its mouth is permanently gaping. I'll call MNR again to report it. If the one bird gets any worse I'll get permission to humanely shoot the poor thing. The last time I shot them the CO came by and picked them up for UGuelph PCR testing. VERY little obvious reproductive success in my area, once again. Only seeing mature birds, lone adult hens with no poults. Check your birds heads and feet closely with binocs if you have visting birds. I'd like to hear if others are seeing the same thing in their area.
