Wildlife Hospital Closes Museum Amid Deadly Bird Flu Surge In NorCal

SAN RAFAEL, CA — Wildlife hospital WildCare announced it is closing its museum to visitors and implementing stricter controls on Friday to protect animal patients from a deadly influenza that's spreading around Northern California.

The virus, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, is not a high risk to humans. But it's highly contagious and deadly amongst bird populations like raptors, corvids, vultures, water fowl and pelagic birds.

HPAI spreads through fine liquid drops in the air, via body fluids and even from people running into an infected bird. The rescue service said domestic birds like chickens, ducks and turkeys are also at risk of dying from this virus.

WildCare said millions of birds have already fallen ill to the disease across the country. Bird populations in Sacramento and Sonoma County have already been found with HPAI, and the hospital expects the virus to pop up in Marin County any day.

The rescue service will continue to admit sick wildlife, though new patients will be placed in outdoor enclosures to prevent potential spread to others patients. Their ambassador animals, used to educate the public on wildlife conservation, are now relocated into protective enclosures and into volunteers' homes.

WildCare recommends poultry owners to change clothes frequently and prevent their birds from interacting with wildlife. It also reminds the public to take down bird feeders to prevent the risk of spread.

The public can continue to bring wildlife into WildCare's facilities. More information on intake protocols can be found at discoverwildcare.org/HPAI.

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