Columbus Zoo moving birds indoors as bird flu concerns linger

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Bird flu has been detected in Ohio in recent weeks, and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is taking action to keep their animals safe.

According to the United Nations, bird flu has killed more than 300 million birds worldwide and one person in the U.S. Although none of the 67 people detected with bird flu since it first spread in 2021 have been in Ohio, animal cases have been seen in the Buckeye state.

“Every few years there is a outbreak and it usually is low pathogenic, so not very dangerous,” Randy Junge, vice president for conservation medicine at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, said. “Every now and then there’s an outbreak of high pathogenic bird flu, which is what we have now.”

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium said it is taking precautionary measures to help keep birds at the zoo and The Wilds safe. To help, the zoo said it has moved some of its more susceptible birds to their indoor winter spaces. Among those moved indoors are flamingoes, swans, pelican and cranes.

“While we know you’ll miss seeing them, rest assured that our Animal Care and Conservation Medicine teams are providing them with exceptional care, including ongoing monitoring and health screenings,” zoo representatives said. “As an added precaution, we’ve also paused feeding raw poultry to any of the animals.”

“You’ll see things like netting over exhibits, or wires stretched across exhibits to try and keep wild waterfowl out,” Junge said. “Or you’ll see ponds where the keepers are trying to discourage ducks and geese from nesting to reduce the populations.”

Bird flu, or avian influenza, is a naturally occurring virus found in birds. The zoo said some birds can carry the disease safely, but it can be dangerous or deadly for others. Junge said there is no risk of exposure by visiting the zoo.

According to the Wildlife Health Information Sharing Partnership, the nearest bird flu death was on or around Jan. 9 in Ross County. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources said birds with avian influenza may exhibit one or more of the following symptoms: