Colorado bird flu hits black bear and mountain lion as disease spreads

Colorado’s worst bird flu outbreak has spread to other mammals, including a downed black bear in Huerfano County and a mountain lion found dead in Gunnison County, state wildlife officials said Thursday. State.

While the number of mammalian bird flu cases remains low, Colorado Parks and Wildlife said, the recent deaths confirm national warnings that the current massive outbreak will have an impact beyond domestic chickens and wild waterfowl. .

More than 6 million chickens have been killed in commercial egg farms in Colorado during the latest outbreak, which accelerated in the spring and fall of 2022. Thousands more wild birds have been killed by the fast-acting disease, including large flocks of snow and duck geese. Canada near the reservoirs of the eastern plains. A handful of raptors have also been taken down by the disease, including bald eagles, which only total a few hundred breeding pairs in Colorado.

Wildlife officials and researchers believe that mammals usually come into contact with bird flu by feeding on bird carcasses. A few cases have been reported in smaller mammals, and other states are concerned that mink farms could spread the disease further.

Crossover to humans for the current strain of bird flu has so far been extremely rare, with one case in Colorado of a worker in close contact with large populations of chickens.

“CPW continues to stress the importance of keeping your distance from wildlife, and in particular not handling sick or dead birds. Although rare, some strains of HPAI can infect people,” a state press release said. “The main protection for the general public is to avoid handling sick or dead birds and to keep their distance from wildlife.”

A state wildlife officer killed the black bear in Huerfano County in October after it showed signs of the disease, including circling, strange behavior, confusion and no fear of humans . The bear’s remains were frozen until lab tests could be carried out to confirm bird flu.

“The decision to humanely euthanize the animal by our wildlife officer was made following the abnormal behavior and the knowledge that many infectious diseases cause neurological symptoms,” said Area Wildlife Manager Mike Brown. CPW. “Extremely sick animals have difficulty moving and often act abnormally.”

The cougar was found just outside the town limits of Gunnison in mid-January, the statement said, in an area common to cougars, and the carcass was tested. The carcass of a Weld County skunk also tested positive in November for the disease, known as highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI.

Colorado wildlife and agriculture officials are encouraging the public to stay away from animals or carcasses suspected of being infected, but to report them to local or state wildlife officials. Updates on statewide avian flu cases and protocols are posted regularly on websites including the state Department of Agriculture.