Rabies is a disease that spreads primarily through bites from infected animals. Since rabies has a 100% mortality rate in humans, it’s important to be cautious. If you’ve come across a sick bird, you may wonder: Can birds get rabies? And can they spread the disease to humans?
In this article, we’ll discuss rates of rabies infections in birds, which animals do and don’t contract rabies, and more–including what to do if you find a sick or injured bird outside.
What is Rabies?
Rabies is a disease with a high mortality rate, which often begins with flu-like symptoms before becoming more severe. As it progresses, symptoms include agitation, confusion, and hallucinations. Affected individuals often have difficulty swallowing and produce a lot of saliva, leading to the stereotype of rabies-infected animals foaming at the mouth.
There is also a type of rabies known as paralytic rabies, which causes paralysis and coma.
Most people think that rabies is caught solely through animal bites, and this is the most common way it’s transmitted. However, you can also catch rabies if you come into contact with an infected animal’s saliva through an open wound or your mucous membranes (such as the eyes, nose, or mouth).
Rabies has a 100% mortality rate in humans, with only 14 known cases of recovery in the entire world. When you have been exposed to rabies, it’s vital to take the possibility of infection seriously and to speak to a doctor about vaccination right away. Luckily, the rabies vaccine is incredibly effective, even after exposure.
Can Birds Get Rabies?
Birds can be given rabies in laboratory testing, and this was first done in 1884. However, there have been very few cases of rabies in wild birds, one of which occurred in a region of India with a high rate of canine infection.
There are no documented cases of birds transmitting rabies to people, and you’ll find that many official sources go so far as to say birds cannot carry rabies, as the risk level is so low.
That said, it can still be dangerous to handle sick or deceased wildlife, including birds. H5N1 bird flu is a current concern as it continues to be widespread in both livestock and wild birds, with some cases seen in humans and even domestic cats.
According to Washington State University, other zoonotic diseases of note include:
- Avian tuberculosis
- Erysipelas
- Ornithosis
- Cryptococcosis
- Histoplasmosis
- Salmonellosis
- Cryptosporidiosis
- Campylobacterosis
- Escherichiosis
What Animals Cannot Get Rabies?
Rabies is most commonly seen in mammals, although not all mammals carry it at the same rates. For instance, despite common stereotypes, rodents such as rats, mice, hamsters, and guinea pigs are rarely infected. Neither are opossums.
Reptiles, amphibians, fish, and insects also rarely or never develop or carry rabies. These animals may carry other zoonotic diseases which can be transferred to humans, however.
If you come across sick, injured, or even deceased wildlife, it’s important to call a professional instead of handling them on your own. If you are instructed to interact, such as to transport them to a wildlife rehab facility, wear protective gloves and try not to touch them directly.
What Animals Carry Rabies the Most?
The animals most likely to carry rabies in the United States are raccoons, bats, skunks, and foxes. While people often worry about contracting rabies from dog bites (which is a valid concern), over 90% of infections occur in wild animals.
Of course, you should see a doctor whenever you are bitten by an unknown or unvaccinated animal, no matter the species. If you think you’ve been near an animal infected by rabies, you should see a doctor even if you weren’t bitten, as the disease can transmit through other ways as well.
Rabies is one disease we cannot be too careful about, since the mortality rate is so high. It’s better to get a vaccine and be safe than to wait too long and succumb to the disease.
What To Do If You Find a Sick Bird
If you find a bird that is sick, injured, or dead, do not try to handle it yourself. Instead, call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for help. They’ve been trained to handle the situation in a way that’s safe for both themselves and the bird.
While it can be tempting to keep a bird you find injured outside, this is often illegal without a permit. It’s often in the bird’s best interest to be rehabilitated and released back into the wild, rather than to be kept in a human home.
Even trying to give the bird food or water can be detrimental, according to Sharon Audubon Center, a wildlife rehabilitation center in Connecticut. Some animals in their care do not survive due to improper feeding by well-meaning civilians.
What if My Pet Has Interacted with a Sick Bird?
If a pet such as a dog or cat has interacted with a sick bird, you don’t need to worry about rabies–though it’s always recommended to keep your pet’s rabies vaccine up to date.
As mentioned above, other diseases may be of concern. If you want to be proactive, you can call your veterinarian to schedule an appointment. They may have you bring your pet to the clinic or wait and watch for symptoms.
If your pet develops symptoms after interacting with the sick bird, they will need to see a veterinarian for help. The vet may ask for details such as when and how your pet interacted with the bird or the bird’s visible symptoms.
Though it can seem natural for dogs and cats to hunt wildlife, it can lead to disease transmission or even poisoning (especially in the case of wild mice or rats). Supervising your pets while they’re outdoors and trying your best to limit their interactions with wild animals are two ways to keep them safe.
Conclusion
In conclusion, birds rarely develop rabies and do not spread the disease to humans. However, it can still be dangerous to interact with a sick or deceased bird, as they may have other zoonotic diseases.
It’s always best to leave the handling of wildlife to the professionals, who often know how to care for them better than we do as well!
