Helping in the search for a cause and caring for sick birds
New England Wildlife Center (NEWC) is responding to an unexplained “die-off” situation on the South Shore and Cape Cod, MA. Northern gannets, the largest seabird of the Northern Atlantic, are washing up on local beaches seriously ill or already dead.
Click here to watch a short video of Dr. Greg Mertz, veterinarian and CEO of NEWC, drawing blood from a sick gannet for further testing as work continues to identify the cause of the die-off.
“Identifying the cause of the die-off as quickly as possible is critical to protecting the fragile eco-system on Cape Cod,” explained Dr. Mertz.
The loss of any native species can have a negative impact on the environment. The risk of a disease spreading to other species is also a serious concern.
Looking for a Cause While Providing Care
This year, NEWC stretched already-thin resources to help keep the Cape Wildlife Center open. As a result, all of NEWC wildlife veterinarians were quickly on the scene responding to this wildlife emergency, collecting data and offering expert opinions essential to diagnosing the ultimate cause of illness.
Dr. Pryia Patel, NEWC wildlife veterinarian stationed at Cape Wildlife, agreed that “by providing medical care to these Gannets, and reaching an understanding of the cause of this die-off, we will further our ability to help all wildlife and their habitats.”
NEWC continues to work with the several state, federal, and wildlife disease organizations managing the situation.
Having NEWC veterinarians on the front lines to draw blood and take tissue samples from birds that succumb to the mystery illness gives scientists from several institutions around the country faster and easier access to the information they need to understand the cause and effects of the disease process.
For the birds suffering the effects of the disease, our wildlife veterinarians are working alongside Wild Care and with other wildlife rehabilitators to provide on-going treatment and to ease suffering.
Local Media Covering the Northern Gannet Die-Off
Television stations, newspapers, and radio stations are reporting on the work wildlife experts and veterinarians from NEWC are doing to find the mysterious cause of the die-off. Click on the links below to watch and read the reports:
NECN: Mysterious Illness Kills Seabirds en Masse on Cape Cod
Patriot Ledger: South Shore Wildlife Experts Seek Answers in Bird Die-Off
Boston Globe: A Mysterious Ailment is Killing Birds on Cape Cod
Help Support Wildlife Emergency Response
NEWC does not receive any state or federal funding to respond to wildlife crisis situations. We are ONLY on the scene on Cape Cod and the South Shore because of donations from people like you.
DONATE TODAY to give wildlife like the Northern Gannets a chance the thrive TOMORROW.