Report sick or dead seagulls

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MOSSEL BAY NEWS - "Please report sick or dead seagull sightings."

This is the urgent request from the Seabird and Penguin Rehabilitation Centre (SAPREC) founder Carol Walton.

SAPREC is based at Mossdustria outside Mossel Bay, on the way to Cape Town.

Walton reported on Sunday, 17 April, there is a botulism outbreak among seagulls in the Mossel Bay area.

She said: "This is a crisis. We have managed to save some gulls. Others are dying."

Botulism is a type of food poisoning. Outbreaks in birds occur throughout the world and if they go unchecked, they can result in declining numbers of bird species. If seagulls appear to be paralysed, sick and do not move when you walk near them, report this to SAPREC (082 364 3382) immediately.

People should keep their dogs away from the birds.

Seagulls can develop botulism if they eat fish which contain the bacterium. Maggots which eat on carcasses of birds or animals may have the bacterium and this can help to spread the disease, which causes paralysis and breathing problems in birds.

PHOTOS: Seagull Botulism crisis

Treat as many birds possible
Birds which are not treated, will die, so it is important that SAPREC treats as many birds possible. Walton says she received the first bird with botulism on 23 January. Since autumn, there has been an increase in cases, she says.

She notes the largest number of sick birds were at Dana Bay. Walton thinks the birds are foraging at the municipal dump outside Mossel Bay and picking up the disease there and then going to roost on the beach at night.

There is also a botulism outbreak in Cape Town, but that was caused by a water source, it is thought, Walton says.

She would be grateful to receive reports on dead seagulls so she can do a monthly tally and gauge if the deaths are increasing.

At present there are 11 seagulls at SAPREC. Prior to these, nine were treated successfully and released. Ten have died. Walton fears there are more deaths than this because people do not usually report dead seagulls.

Rather than trying to handle sick birds, members of the public should contact SAPREC, Walton asks. Too much handling of the birds causes them stress.

A sick gull at Second Beach.