Avian flu claims an historical first death: Whooping crane

 

Photo and headline:  Wisconsin State Journal, 9/29/2025

John Gittings reports:

She was transported back to ICF from Horicon for care after contracting the virus at Horicon, foundation spokesperson Ryan Michalesko said in an interview Monday. 

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of Ducky," International Crane Foundation Curator of Birds Kim Boardman said in a statement. "Each Whooping Crane is invaluable — not only to our organization, but to the survival of the entire species." 

There are roughly 700 whooping cranes left in the wild in North America, including only 70 in a reintroduced flock known as the Eastern Migratory Population. Ducky's death represents more than 1% of that flock.

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Nebraska reports its first known case of avian flu in dairy herd.  (9/17)

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Must be Kristi Noem's bad karma and her Corey Lewandowski hook-up:  South Dakota is ground zero for avian flu so far this fall.  (9/10)

Avian flu is not going away:  Texas records U.S. case #1079 since January 2024.  (9/9)

April-August 2025

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