Following reports of HPAI at both Reichardt Duck Farm and Sunrise Farms, in Sonoma County, a member of the faculty at the College Veterinary Medicine, University of California at Davis raised the question of agro-bioterrorism in an interview with the Sonoma County Press Democrat.  It is a matter of record that the activist organization Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) was responsible for intrusion into both operations as long as two years ago.  There is no epidemiologic evidence that their activity was in any way associated with outbreaks. 

It is indeed unfortunate and irresponsible on the part of the UCD veterinarian interviewed who provided a guide to would be activists “to contaminate their sneakers with goose droppings and enter a farm.”  This apparently casusl banter with reporters simply provideed those opposed to intensive livestock production with suggestions that they may or may not have independently developed. 

When interviewed by the media it is best not to speculate and to confine comments to scientific fact, remembering that nothing is ever “off record”.