Raptors could see respiratory issues if Mount Spurr erupts

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - The Bird Treatment and Learning Center (TLC) is preparing for Mount Spurr’s potential eruption.

According to the Alaska Volcano Observatory, the volcano is currently under yellow advisory as unrest continues following a report last month that Mount Spurr could likely erupt in the coming weeks or months on a scale like the last major eruption in 1992.

Animal Care Director Karen Higgs and others at Bird TLC say they are prepared to move their ambassador raptors, indoors, in case the advisory level goes to red. Ambassador raptors are birds that were unable to be released back into the wild and are used for education programs.

According to Higgs, the plan is to move the raptors inside kennels, similar to what they use when they travel.

“They’re trained to stay inside their kennels,” Higgs said. “We also have a few outdoor cages — or mews — that are ready to drop the cover on, and we can move some of the bigger birds, like the eagles, outside because they’ll only tolerate their kennel for a couple of days.”

Bird TLC noted it has also stocked up on supplies, including food, to care for the birds in case its food supply becomes impacted by the eruption.

“I’m not expecting [it] to be a major disaster, but we’re preparing for it, just in case,” Higgs said. “Just being prepared, we will be more efficient, we will be able to care for more birds, should we need to.”

Volcanic ash can irritate raptor’s eyes and contaminate their feathers, Higg said, similar to mammals.

She said birds have a sensitive respiratory system that could easily be impacted by an eruption.

The potential of Spurr’s eruption, she noted, also happens to fall in line with the raptor’s breeding and nesting season.

“Because this is breeding and nesting season, there are some birds — if they go down on the ground and they can’t get back up — they should be on their nest taking care of their young,” Higgs said. “We would want to get those birds back to the wild as soon as possible.”

Additionally, the food supply for wild raptors in the wild could also be impacted by the eruption, Higgs said.

Higgs told Alaska’s News Source that Bird TLC is not expecting to see a rise in intake numbers, but similar to other natural disasters like earthquakes, she said they could experience an increased volume of phone calls.

“We’ll just need to be able to talk people through how to leave the birds alone, what to do if they do have a bird,” Higgs said.

Bird TLC asks people to call them to report any injured raptors at 907-562-4852.

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