ST. GEORGE — Earlier this year, the southwest was rocked by the news that 21 members of its Utah-Arizona California condor flock died during a “devastating” bird flu outbreak. But there’s renewed hope with recent vaccine trials.
St. George News first reported the outbreak in April, and while no more cases have been reported, potentially due to rising temperatures, conservationists remain concerned. So, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began trials for a vaccine created by Zoetis to inoculate the condors.
Work began on the vaccine in 2014, and it received a conditional license from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2016, Christina Lood told St. George News. Lood is the senior director of sustainability and innovation communications at Zoetis.
The original vaccine was manufactured in 2001-02 for poultry in Southeast Asia, Lood said, adding that they’ve since donated it to zoos across the globe to vaccinate dozens of avian species.
The current iteration of the inactive, or “killed virus,” vaccine was developed and updated based on a strain of the virus that was prevalent at the time. Zoetis distributed the vaccine to the USDA’s National Veterinary Stockpile in 2016, and it is not commercially available.
“I guess that’s why they turned to us,” she said. “The Fish and Wildlife Service turned to us seeking a potential solution for the condors. And we’ve worked with a lot of zoos and other wildlife veterinarians over the years … because they often have to be pretty creative in coming up with solutions for more of these exotic animals.”
The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service approved the emergency use of the vaccine in mid-May, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service.
The effort marks the first time the USDA has vaccinated any bird species in the U.S., captive or wild, Fish and Wildlife California Condor Coordinator Ashleigh Blackford told St. George News.
“We are very thankful to our USDA partners for being willing to entertain our request for emergency authorization use and for providing us this opportunity,” she said.
Before administering the vaccine to condors, the USDA and its health inspection service, Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Geological Survey began trials by inoculating 20 vultures, with another eight serving as controls.
In early June, the Carolina Raptor Center welcomed 28 black vultures after being chosen to host the vaccine trial for its “unique facilities and expertise in the field of raptor rehabilitation and care.” The pilot study is necessary to ensure the condors’ safety, according to a news release issued by the center.
“We’re fortunate to have the space and skill set to care for these incredible vultures in support of their critically endangered relatives – the California Condor,” the Carolina Raptor Center’s CEO and President Erin Katzner said.
“Although this disease has been devastating to condors, we appreciate the opportunity to contribute to conservation by taking part in this critical and cutting-edge research effort,” Katzner added. “CRC is proud to collaborate with so many impressive partners to save one of the most iconic birds in North America.”
The first dose was administered on May 16 to 20 birds. Ten were given an initial double dose, while the other 10 received two separate doses as of June 6. No negative reactions were reported, and the vultures are doing well, said Kristen Dean, who serves as the center’s director of avian operations.
“They’re strong, healthy, and behaving like vultures — which means eating a lot of food,” she said in the release.
Because the vaccine was “proven safe,” and some of the vultures have shown an antibody response, the incident command is expected to implement captive condor vaccinations in July, Fish and Wildlife states.
Caring for endangered birds
Following the outbreak, eight sick birds were captured and cared for at Liberty Wildlife, with four of them succumbing to the virus — two within the first 24 hours, Blackford said, adding that beyond providing food and water, it was difficult to know how to respond to a situation they’d never encountered before.
“Most rehab centers don’t have an opportunity to treat for avian influenza because the birds die so quickly,” she said. “And so any bird that is found in the wild, just happenstance only — whether it was an eagle or a vulture — there’s really no opportunity to provide care.
“It’s because we monitor this population so closely that — we had a field team out there watching — they were able to basically intervene in the declining birds.”
The four surviving birds are now testing negative for the virus, Blackford added, describing the staff’s work as “incredible.”
The death toll was nearly 20% of the Utah-Arizona flock, she said. While many birds have perished in other circumstances, like wildfires, the outbreak marked the species’ largest mortality event due to a single incident.
“When we’re talking recovery of endangered species, backward is not the direction you want to be going,” Blackford said.
The condors were set up “to best sustain an event like this” through a separation of populations in California and Arizona, which gives them the “opportunity to recover from events that might just impact one particular flock,” Blackford said.
However, the outbreak was particularly worrisome due to the species’ small population.
“We, unfortunately, just don’t have that depth in our population to say, ‘We don’t need to do anything about this — let’s just let this run through,'” she said.
The virus’s spread has slowed with no further reports of ill birds. High temperatures kill the virus, creating a break in its spread, Jane Naillon, the director of brand and communication with The Peregrine Fund, said in an email to St. George News.
“We are optimistic but also cautious and prepared for it to return in the fall with fall migrations,” she said. “However, with the potential of the vaccine and our experience with protocols in place, we are hopeful that we can hinder or mitigate the disease in this flock.”
Lead still a threat to condors
Before bird flu, lead poisoning is the leading cause of condor deaths, Naillon said, adding that collaborating with hunters could lead the way for the raptors’ recovery.
“We don’t want to lose sight of that threat,” she said.
Healthy condors are more likely to withstand viruses, Blackford said.
“Of our birds in the wild, most have some level of lead exposure, and that suppresses their immune system and their ability to respond to this,” she said. “And so, if we can keep chipping away at pieces like that and improve the health of our flock, we’re going to be much better-prepared long-term.”
A common lead source is hunted animal remains, which condors often feed on and may contain lead bullet fragments, St. George News reported previously.
To support condors and other carrion, hunters can collect their gut piles or choose other kinds of ammunition, such as copper bullets, Blackford said.
The clips featured in the video above are courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Peregrine Fund and the National Park Service.
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.
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After 21 Utah-Arizona condors die amid 'devastating' bird flu outbreak, urgent response offers new hope - St George News
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