Meewasin restricting hand-feeding over bird flu concerns

Meewasin has advised visitors that chickadees can’t be hand-fed on the Beaver Creek Conservation Area site.

Provincial wildlife authorities have advised against hand-feeding at this time because avian influenza — or bird flu — has been detected in Saskatchewan.

The disease poses no risk to humans but has been found at poultry farms and in wild birds in the province in the past couple of weeks.

Meewasin also advised visitors not to hand-feed using their own seed.

The situation is being monitored and Meewasin said changes will be made if experts declare it to be safe to offer seed again.

Meewasin said staff members are also making efforts to properly clean their own bird feeders regularly, beyond steps taken by the organization, to help curb the spread of the disease.