Harbor Seal Dies from Bird Flu at Massachusetts Zoo
At Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford, Blue, a 21-year-old harbor seal, died from a severe case of bird flu on February 5. The first signs showed up just days before, on January 31.
Testing showed Blue got sick from contact with wild birds. Quick action by zoo staff protected other animals, including Conway and Luna – two seals who remained healthy after being quickly separated from their sick companion.
Staff removed duck feeders and moved at-risk animals to protected areas. This death adds to the growing number of infections hitting zoos and wild animals across the country.
The dangerous H5N1 strain has spread beyond birds to sea mammals. Researchers found infections in seals near Washington’s Puget Sound, showing the sickness affects both U.S. coasts.
“The more it adapts to mammals the more important it becomes for humans,” said Marcela Uhart to UC Davis News.
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says human risk remains low, people working with infected animals have higher chances of getting sick.
Previous outbreaks hit seal populations hard. In 2022, the virus spread through harbor and gray seal groups in Quebec’s St. Lawrence Estuary.
Health experts warn people to stay away from sick or dead wildlife. The virus keeps changing, with new versions showing up in birds and sea mammals throughout South America.
Researchers watch how the virus changes as it moves through wildlife. The CDC recommends staying careful around sick animals and where they live.
