Swans found dead at Sacramento County park were infected with bird flu
MATHER — Wildlife officials confirmed that the swans found dead at Mather Regional Park in Sacramento County in November were infected with bird flu.
This latest announcement comes after a month of people wondering what killed these swans. Since the original grouping of swans was tested, more have died.
It's news wildlife capture specialists like Ben Nuckolls were expecting but not hoping for.
"Not just for the waterfowl population but the secondary effects," Nuckolls said.
What started as nine swans found dead on November 25 rose to more than 30 over the month of December. Further testing continues.
"And that's what Fish and Wildlife is trying to determine at this time, the exact strain of avian influenza," Nuckolls said.
There are two strains of the virus — one of them much more dangerous than the other. Mather Regional Park remains closed as wildlife crews continue to monitor the area for infected animals.
Nuckolls believes that transmission is still ongoing after he discovered another dead swan on Saturday. However, he is particularly concerned about secondary infections, which could trigger a chain reaction.
Bird flu has been an ongoing issue infecting wild birds, poultry and dairy cattle across the state.
In response, California declared a state of emergency to monitor the situation. More than 30 people across the state have been infected after coming into contact with cattle.
Just this week, the first U.S. death from bird flu was reported out of Louisiana.
However, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the risk to the general public remains low, with no evidence of human-to-human transmission.
Nuckolls and other wildlife officials are urging people that if they see a dead bird in areas like lakes and ponds to not touch or try to remove it and report it to Fish and Wildlife.