BIRD FLU FOUND IN NEW MAMMAL

Berlin - The bird flu virus has now been found in a Stone marten, a German laboratory said on Thursday, indicating the disease has spread beyond cats to another species of mammal.
The Friedrich-Loeffler Institute confirmed the presence of the virus in the marten, a weasel-like animal with a white throat patch, found on the island of Ruegen in north Germany March 2. The animal was found alive but was killed after the virus was detected.
The Stone Marten (Martes foina) is the most common species of marten in Central Europe. Stone martens are long, slender, short-legged predators with long, bushy tails. They grow to a size of 40 to 50cm in body length and weigh up to two kilograms. Their brown coats have a forked white marking at the throat, which distinguishes them in appearance from the Pine Marten whose throat marking is cream-coloured and more rounded.
Stone martens frequently live in areas of human settlement, often in attic spaces, but can also be found in the countryside, although they avoid areas where there is no cover. They inhabit the whole of Europe as well as Western and Central Asia. During the day Stone martens sleep in cover and hunt for food in the twilight. They are omnivores and their diet includes smaller mammals, earthworms, eggs, and fruit.
The mating season lasts from June to August and their young are born in March or April. A litter consists of 2 to 4 young.
Stone martens are noted for their habit of damaging cars by biting through ignition leads and brake hoses and pulling apart insulation boards. This might be caused by the presence of territorial markings of other martens in the engine compartment. Stone martens also creep into outbuildings where they eat not only eggs but also poultry and rabbits. Stone martens characteristically leave small droppings to mark territory, often on raised land.