Rhode Island Sees Spike In Dead Seabirds, Avian Flu Could Be To Blame

RHODE ISLAND — A spike in dead seabirds along the Rhode Island coast has experts cautioning those along the shoreline to steer clear, citing a recent outbreak of the avian flu.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) issued an advisory Friday asking those on beaches to avoid any dead birds.

"Due to the recent outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), wildlife officials are cautioning the public to remain vigilant and avoid any dead birds found washed up on the shoreline. While risk of HPAI to humans is low, the public is urged not to touch dead birds and to keep dogs on leashes and away from carcasses," a news release from the organizations said.

This comes just days after hundreds of dead birds washed ashore on Martha's Vineyard. Block Island has also seen "many recent mortalities," according to the organizations. Read more: Hundreds Of Dead Birds Wash Up On Martha's Vineyard

It's not uncommon to find a small number of dead birds along the coast, but the numbers are higher than usual, experts say. Though a cause of death isn't confirmed for the most recent birds, other areas have seen them test positive for the avian flu in recent months.

State, federal and non-government organizations are working to test a sample of birds as they continue to monitor local beaches.