An owl rescued in Dedham last week has died as it attempted to recover at the New England Wildlife Center, with West Nile Virus the likely cause, Dedham Animal Control officers said.
The young Eastern Screech Owl, which a Dedham resident discovered tangled in a soccer net, had shown positive signs as it healed from superficial wounds. It was soon expected to be released back into the wild.
But on Friday morning, the owl suffered “an unrecoverable seizure,” animal control officials said. While an array of ailments could have caused the medical episode, staff at the wildlife center suspected it was due to West Nile Virus — a mosquito-borne disease that state officials recently warned some communities are at elevated risk of.
While the majority of people who contract West Nile Virus show no symptoms, the virus can cause fevers, aches and nausea in about 20% of cases. A slim portion of infections cause serious illness.
Nineteen people contracted the virus last year. None have so far this year, the Department of Public Health said last week.
Dedham is not among the communities at elevated risk of West Nile Virus, though some others in the area are, including Brookline and Newton.
In a similar case to the owl that died last week, a hawk rescued by Dedham firefighters also recently died of suspected West Nile Virus while being cared for at the Tufts University Wildlife Clinic, Dedham animal control officials said.
They lauded the staff at Tufts and the New England Wildlife Center for their care of the animals.
Birds of prey are suspected of having higher exposure to the virus than other wildlife, animal control officials said. Owls are more active during dusk and night, in line with the mosquitoes that spread the virus. Hawks often ingest smaller birds and animals that may already be infected.
State officials have advised people in high-risk communities to avoid mosquitoes by limiting time spent outdoors in the evening or early morning and to wear insect repellent, long sleeves, pants and socks when outside during those times.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
