Roodepoort community urged to keep an eye out for infected owls

Earlier in August, local wildlife rehabilitator Georgina Lackinger from the South African Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre rescued a spotted eagle owl in the Helderkruin area.

The owl showed telltale signs of Trichomoniasis, caused by Trichomonas gallinaea, a parasite carried symptomatically or asymptomatically by doves and pigeons.

It is believed that the rescued owl’s mate had already succumbed to the disease.

“The earlier the owl is caught the better the prognosis and the condition can be cured,” exclaimed Lackinger. She further explained that cosmopolitan birds of prey can contract trichomoniasis from preying on other birds.

“The infection causes damage to the tissues of the mouth, throat, crop and oesophagus of infected birds, causing difficulty in swallowing and breathing,” she stated.

“Owls are our most common bird of prey in suburbia and since doves and pigeons adapt well to built-up areas, owls often contract this disease. Doves and pigeons being flock birds will congregate in numbers when food and water are available, thus allowing for the easy spread of the parasite from bird to bird,” Lackinger elaborated, “Unfortunately in dense living areas doves are more prevalent as food than rodents.”

Lackinger also stipulated that feeding doves and pigeons on mass increases the risk of the spread of Trichomonas and encouraged residents to always clean their bird water baths every day!

She proceeded to elaborate that the infection in an owl is called frounce which is a plaque-like build-up from tissue damaged by the Trichomonas and secondary bacterial infections.

“In severe cases, this can occlude the throat and the owl will suffer from dehydration and starvation. The infection can also affect the eyes, nasal cavities and the brain. In warm weather this condition attracts flies resulting in maggot infestations,” she pointed out.

Lackinger continued by explaining that the outward signs of an infected owl include an owl sitting still for long periods, eyes closed, often near water bowls, pools or ponds. Sometimes with flies buzzing around.

Residents are urged to report any sightings of owls showcasing these symptoms to one of the numbers below.

Call the rehabilitation centre on 073 112 1131, or contact their West Rand branch on 082 559 7105. Residents are also encouraged to contact the Owl Rescue Centre on 082 719 5463 and finally, the Friends of Free Wildlife on 082 561 3681.

“The sooner we get to the infected owl, the greater the chances are to save it,” Lackinger repeated.