Bird Flu Detected in 2 California Mountain Lions

Rescued chickens gather in an aviary at Farm Sanctuary’s Southern California Sanctuary in Acton, Calif., on Oct. 5, 2022. A wave of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian flu had entered Southern California, raising concerns for wild birds and poultry farms in the region. Mario Tama/Getty Images

The Eurasian strain of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI H5N1) has been detected in two mountain lions in California in recent months, wildlife health experts confirmed this week.

In a March 28 news release, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) said that while additional disease testing is currently being conducted to rule out the possibility of co-infections, avian influenza is suspected to be the cause of death for both mountain lions.