Wildlife biologists investigating several reports of songbirds dying near birdfeeders now believe salmonella was the cause of death, according to a press release from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

Dead birds were reported in several counties in the eastern half of Tennessee, said Scott Dykes, a non-game biologist for the TWRA.

Similar incidents have been reported in neighboring North Carolina.
“Most affected are purple finches, pine siskins and American goldfinches,” Dykes said. Some of the birds were sent for analysis to the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study Center in Athens, Ga., where initial tests pointed to salmonella.

Salmonella bacteria are present in the guts of many wild and domestic birds, and can cause sickness or death during periods of stress, according to the TWRA.

“To try to narrow down the cause, we have collected bird seed samples from the affected areas to send to SCWDS for analysis as well,” Dykes added.

No connection has been made to wild bird food, although some wild bird food products were voluntarily pulled from store shelves at about the same time, according to the Food and Drug Administration (Washington).

Scotts Co. L.L.C., a subsidiary of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. (Marysville, Ohio),  voluntarily recalled five varieties of suet food because of potential salmonella contamination related to ingredients from the Peanut Corp. of America facility in Blakely, Ga.

According to published reports, the salmonella outbreak could end up costing the peanut industry $1 billion.

Burkmann Feeds, a southern regional supplier of bird food for Wild Birds Unlimited (Carmel, Ind.), issued a voluntary recall of WBU Wildlife Blend because salmonella was detected in one 20-pound bag, but says no correlation between bird deaths and the recalled food has been established. According to the company, the strain of salmonella found in the food is different than the strain found in the dead birds.

Peanut-related recalls of dog food continue, too. American Health Kennels Inc. (Pompano Beach, Fla.) and American Nutrition Inc. (Ogden, Utah) voluntarily recalled baked dog treats, citing possible salmonella contamination.

Dogs also have been sickened by salmonella, with the first case confirmed in Oregon, according to published reports.

For a comprehensive list of recalled products, go to www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm and click on “pet food product recalls.” [May 2009 PET AGE]