Shelton is southwest of Seattle / south of Puget Sound:
Posted on 12/27/2024 12:20:19 PM PST by Red Badger
An animal sanctuary in Shelton, Wash., is under quarantine after a bird flu outbreak killed 20 big cats at the facility over the past month.
The Wild Felid Advocacy Center of Washington called the deaths "heartbreaking," confirming the virus has claimed more than half its animals, including four cougars and a half-Bengal tiger, since late November.
"Our sanctuary is under quarantine to protect our remaining animals and prevent further spread," the center said in a statement, adding it will remain closed to the public until further notice.
The sanctuary said the outbreak may have been caused by respiratory secretions passed from infected birds to the cats or by contaminated meat fed to the cats. It said bird flu poses a serious risk to felines, often progressing from mild symptoms to fatal pneumonia within 24 hours.
The first cat, a cougar, died on Nov. 23 after showing signs of the illness. The virus then quickly sickened many other animals across the sanctuary. While some of the cats shared a wall between their habitats, they did not have direct contact.
The sanctuary's 17 surviving animals — cougars, bobcats, servals, and tigers — remain under close observation.
In response, the sanctuary removed 8,000 pounds of food from storage and began deep cleaning, but the nonprofit says the measures have strained its finances. "The mounting medical costs, even at discounted rates, are significant," it said, appealing for donations to cover expenses.
The outbreak comes amid rising concerns over bird flu in the U.S.
Earlier this month, California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency due to its spread among dairy cattle, and outbreaks have been reported in wild and domestic bird populations across multiple states.
A brand of cat food also said it was recalling a line of its products after authorities linked the death of a cat to a batch of feed contaminated with bird flu.
The brand, Northwest Naturals, said it was advising people to throw out two-pound bags of its Feline Turkey Recipe that have a best-by date between May 21, 2026, and June 23, 2026, after the bags tested positive for virulent bird flu.
Experts warn that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is becoming more prevalent, driven by migratory bird patterns.
While the virus primarily affects birds, it has shown the capacity to infect mammals, including domestic pets and wildlife, under certain conditions.
Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the first severe human case of bird flu in the U.S. — a Louisiana resident who was hospitalized after being exposed to backyard flocks.
The US has a wildlife sanctuary? NEVER heard of it before! WHY ISN’T IT PRIVATIZED?
oh yeah, i get it deep state. just like the wuflu jumped to us from bats.
You can hear the scamdemic drums being beat in leftie LaLa Land.
I will never comply with lockdowns and vaccine mandates again. If lockdowns start happening again I highly recommend a second revolution.
I read that as US RUNS IT!
If a decree is placed on the population and 90% of the people ignore it there's not much the government can do.
I think it means it is IN the USA, not that it is a federal sanctuary. JMHO
Just like RONA, have the big cats social distance, wear masks and take the death jab then quarantine for two weeks to flatten the curve but it could last months just so the big kitties know.
Why haven’t we heard about mass deaths of domestic cats?
Exactly. How did these protected cats get infected?
Did someone intentionally infect them?
Was it in their food?
And they are all separated, so hos did they infect each other?.............
Were the bad kitty cats eating birds again?
Exactly.
Good questions.
Is it bird flu or cat scratch fever? Ted wants to know.
I have to wonder how bird flu is infecting. Dried feed bags?
Will this prevent Trump from inauguration?
I’m sure that’s all they’re interested in on this
Shelton is southwest of Seattle / south of Puget Sound:
This is beginning just like 2016.
Deja vu all over again...............
“US RUNS IT!”
No, “WE’S RUN IT”
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