BRAMPTON – To help protect the health and safety of residents and pets, the City of Brampton is providing tips below in response to deceased waterfowl found in the area of Professor’s Lake. While the cause of death remains undetermined, the City of Brampton Animal Services team is actively monitoring the area and the situation. Specimens have been sent to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC) to test for Avian Influenza.
The risk of Avian Flu spreading to humans is extremely rare. There are no indicators of increasing risk to the general public at this time. Pet owners are being asked to take the following precautions:
• Keep animals away from any waterfowl or fecal matter
• Do not feed or otherwise interact with the waterfowl
• Keep cats indoors
• Keep dogs on a leash (as required under the municipal by-law)
• Do not feed pets (e.g., dogs or cats) any raw meat from game birds or poultry
• Pet birds, if not normally kept indoors, should be restricted to the indoors
• Bird feeders should be removed or washed with soap and water frequently to reduce the chance of bacterial or viral contamination
If the birds test negative for Avian Influenza, a full necropsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death. More details will be provided as they become available. Additional information on Canadian Geese can be found on the City of Brampton website here. More information on Avian Influenza can be found on the Government of Canada website here.