Bird Quarantine near Red Mountain

[mouthcallinmatt1]

I meant to post this a while ago but when I was driving back from an X9A deer hunt last month, I was going down the 395 past Red Mountain area and there were signs that said something like "Poultry & Bird Quarantine Area". Does this mean if you are hunting Chukar around there that you can't take them home? I'm not planning on going myself but I was curious if anyone knew about this.

 

[DKScott]

Could it be a leftover sign from the Newcastle's outbreak earlier this year? Let's hope so!

 

[BigDaddyB]

I saw them also on my way home from sage grouse hunting in Sept. My huntin partner seemed to think in terms of it being an old sign also. I believe there was an 800# for info but we wnt by too fast to jot it down. My partner will be up there friday before the opener, I'll have to remember to ask if they learn what's up, they're suppose to call me for a report of their scouting, I'll post it then if I learn something! I'm going quail hunting and I may cruise up there later in the day if their report is any good.

 

[rlwright]

I'm pretty sure thos are old signs, they're still posted on the 5 also. I think it means you can't bring pen raised poultry into or out of the area. Wild birds are fairly resistant to the disease so there shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Demetri Da Greek]

I hope this helps.

CALIFORNIA FREE OF EXOTIC NEWCASTLE DISEASE

Statewide quarantine lifted



SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Food and Agriculture and the U.S.
Department of Agriculture have announced an end to the Exotic Newcastle Disease
(END) quarantine. Extensive testing of the regulated area has been completed, with no
additional detections of the disease.

The state and federal quarantines originally encompassed 46,000 square miles, which
included the following counties: Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Santa
Barbara, San Bernardino, San Diego, Ventura, and a small southeastern corner of Kern
County. On August 4, 2003, all but 7,300 square miles of the quarantine was released.
This latest action lifts the regional quarantine in California and once again permits poultry
exhibitions. However, CDFA retains the authority to monitor and test at poultry sale
venues and exhibition venues in an effort to prevent the introduction of highly contagious
poultry diseases such as END.

“We have eagerly anticipated this day and are extremely proud of the tireless work of the
Exotic Newcastle Disease Task Force,” said CDFA Secretary William (Bill) J. Lyons,
Jr. “We relied on the expertise of CDFA veterinarians and other staff, as well as
veterinarians from the USDA and from Baja California. We also greatly appreciate the
contributions from other state, federal and local agencies, and the state of the art
capabilities of the California Animal Health and Food Safety Lab at the University of
California. Many government agencies and thousands of people contributed to an
expeditious and successful conclusion of this program.”

The initial cases of Exotic Newcastle Disease were detected last fall. By winter, the
disease had spread to commercial poultry operations in Southern California. In January,
California Governor Gray Davis declared a state of emergency. The outbreak cost more
than $160 million to fight and resulted in the depopulation of more than 3 million birds.

To guard against the risk of subsequent outbreaks, especially in the high-risk fall months,
CDFA has activated an ongoing monitoring program. All backyard poultry owners and
commercial operations are encouraged to practice biosecurity measures to help prevent
the introduction of disease when people enter or depart the premises, to routinely check
birds for signs of illness, and to report any incidence of suspected END or other bird
diseases. More information is available at www.cdfa.ca.gov or through the END
information line, 1-800-491-1899.

Editors’ Note- CDFA and USDA representatives will be available via conference call at
3 p.m. today to discuss the lifting of the quarantine. The number is 1-866-453-9084. The
pass code is 340726.

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