Blue Ridge Wildlife Center Patient of the Week: Canada Goose

This adult Canada Goose is improving slowly after being found weak, uncoordinated, and unable to hold their head up.

All signs and diagnostics suggest that this bird is suffering from botulism, which commonly affects poultry and wild ducks, especially in late summer when we have hotter weather.

Botulism is caused by the toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum, a bacterial organism. The spores of this bacteria are highly resistant in the environment and they are common in waterways and soils. The toxin is often found in decaying carcasses or decaying plant matter.

Once ingested, the toxins interfere with signals of transmission in the nervous system. In birds, this causes progressive weakness and typically a drooped head, colloquially-referred to as “limberneck” and eventually results in death.

Once signs develop, treatment is largely supportive care including fluid therapy, tube feeding, and physical therapy.

Once victims die of this toxin, their bodies stay in the environment and can contribute to the continued cycle. Vultures can eat the carcasses of botulism victims without becoming infected themselves, which eliminates it from the environment. Making vultures the superheroes of controlling disease spread!

This disease also has zoonotic potential and has been known to affect humans and domestic animals. That’s why we always wear full personal protective equipment (PPE) whenever handling waterfowl and other species that are higher risk for disease spread.

This goose has a guarded prognosis for now, but we will do everything we can to give them the best chance possible!

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