Access to Harrison Park was blocked off on Sept. 22. (Claire McCormack/BayshoreBroadcasting)
Harrison Park in Owen Sound is going to feel a lot different.
Nearly 100 birds and waterfowl in the bird sanctuary at the park were euthanized by Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) staff on Thursday, following positive test results of avian influenza.
Ducks, geese, pheasants and peacocks were all put down.
Only six swans were saved. The city submitted a special request to the CFIA to have the swans quarantined in a separate facility with ongoing monitoring for disease.
The Harrison Park swans are descendants of the original six swans gifted to then-Mayor Elias Lemon from King George V in 1912.
Owen Sound Mayor Ian Boddy says the loss of the birds and waterfowl is “devastating for any of us that grew up and went to the park as kids to look at the birds,” as well as those who take their kids or grandchildren.
“While we’ve been able to establish a safe alternative for the residential swans of Harrison Park, we’re deeply saddened to hear of the required euthanization of the other domestic birds at the park – they’ve been an important part of the park for many decades,” Boddy says. “With the unique setup of the park’s bird sanctuary being open to wild birds, we understand the CFIA is taking a proactive approach to preventing the disease from spreading any further.”
Owen Sound city staff notified the CFIA about health concerns of the bird and waterfowl population in the Harrison Park bird sanctuary last week.
A release from the city says: “Following confirmed positive test results of Avian Influenza (H5N1) on September 19, CFIA issued an Order to Dispose on September 22. The order relates to all domestic birds and waterfowl on site (approximately 95 birds and waterfowl). The CFIA attended the park on the morning of September 22 and proceeded to humanely euthanize the birds and waterfowl subject to the order, save the six residential swans.”
Harrison Park was blocked off at the entrance Thursday morning while CFIA staff were on site to euthanize the birds. It has since re-opened.
Avian Influenza is a disease caused by a virus that primarily infects domestic poultry and wild birds such as geese, ducks, and shore birds. Highly pathogenic avian influenza, H5N1, is a strain known to kill both wild birds and commercial poultry.
It does not easily cross from birds to humans and the current strain has been listed as a lower than normal concern for spread to people.
The city continues to ask residents who locate a wild bird that is deceased to report it through the Canadian Wildlife Health Co-operative’s online reporting tool or by phone at 1-866-673-4781.
*Editor’s note: This story was updated from an earlier version to add more commentary and information.