BRI news stories have appeared in many regional, national, and international news outlets. These stories help promote awareness of our work, but also promote the general issues of conservation biology and the need to continue research in wildlife health and its implications to human health.
BRI's researchers are available to talk to journalists and provide expert information on both their work and the broader topics of their expertise.
To set up interviews, contact:
Deborah McKew, Communications Director
Tracking a Mysterious Eider Virus
by Lucas Savoy
For the past several years, biologists, veterinarians, and researchers from numerous agencies have been actively attempting to unravel the origin of a mysterious virus responsible for killing hundreds of Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima) each fall in Massachusetts. This virus was discovered at Jeremy Point in Wellfleet, Massachusetts; hence, it’s now known as the Wellfleet Bay Virus (WFBV).
Although fairly similar in appearance, there are four sub-species of Common Eiders, all found in North America, each occupying very different habitats; ranging from northern Canada and the Arctic, to as far west as Alaska. The eider sub species most familiar to New Englanders is the American Common Eider (Somateria mollissima dresseri).
