Avian Flu Reaches New Northern California Beach, Threatening Marine Life

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The National Park Service has announced that a strain of bird flu that can be deadly for marine life has been found in Point Reyes, California. Last month, researchers said they had discovered the same virus in seven dead elephant seal pups at Año Nuevo State Park in San Mateo County, about 80 miles south.

Biologists said they “received results of a presumptive positive case” of the virus in a common murre bird found at Kehoe Beach in Point Reyes, Marin County. While the beach does not host an elephant seal colony, scientists are concerned that the virus could spread to a nearby colony at Point Reyes, which is home to roughly 4,000 seals. The same virus, known as H5N1, has decimated similar elephant seal species in the Southern Hemisphere.

“At this time, no signs of illness have been observed among elephant seals at Point Reyes,” the National Park Service said in a press release.

According to the National Park Service, park biologists observed numerous dead common murres throughout the park on February 25. They linked the deaths to an avian flu outbreak affecting other Northern California beaches. On March 10, preliminary tests confirmed that one of the three birds tested was positive for the avian flu.

Giancarlo Rulli of the Marine Mammal Center told SF Gate that experts are monitoring wildlife across a 600-mile stretch tied to the outbreak, from San Luis Obispo to Sonoma County.

“Our experts continue to test all incoming animals for influenza at our Sausalito hospital and have had no positive cases among our patients during this event,” Rulli said.

The National Park Service recommends keeping a safe distance from wildlife and ensuring dogs remain on leash so they do not come into contact with dead animals. Any dead wildlife should be reported to the park.