Fast fact

Salmonella is the most common bird-feeder disease and it isn’t unusual for the bacteria to be picked up by pets, primarily cats and dogs, after they’ve eaten infected birds. Then it can be passed along to their handlers. Human cases of salmonella usually aren’t fatal, but coming down with it isn’t fun. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, headaches and a general malaise followed by abdominal pain, nausea and diarrhea, Cornell University veterinarians say.