Bird flu fears halt animal feeding at Tilden Little Farm

Leave your lettuce and celery at home if you take a trip to the Little Farm at Tilden Regional Park these days.

The Berkeley Hills farm, which has long been a popular attraction for families with young children, recently posted signs asking people not to feed or pet its animals “due to the potential presence of avian flu in the region.”

The bulletins in English and Spanish were prominently displayed around the enclosures for chickens, ducks, pigs and other animals Thursday morning. They also ask visitors to wash their hands before leaving.

A Berkeleyside reader alerted us to the signs earlier this week, and a review on the facility’s Yelp page indicates they have been up since at least March 1.

In response to an inquiry from Berkeleyside, East Bay Regional Park District spokesman Dave Mason wrote in an email, “The Park District continues to monitor and evaluate avian flu conditions, the risks to the public, as well as the overall health of the animals at the Tilden Little Farm.”

Mason did not respond to a question asking how long the prohibition on feeding is expected to last.

Avian flu has long been circulating among wild birds, and local experts have documented an uptick among birds of prey; devotees of the falcons who nest at the UC Berkeley Campanile fear it may be to blame for their recent disappearance. The highly contagious virus has also spread rapidly through poultry farms, leading to nationwide egg shortages.

Cows and other livestock are at risk from the virus as well, and dozens of cases have been documented among humans. Pubic health officials reported an Alameda County child tested positive for the virus in November, and recovered after experiencing mild symptoms.