Three young grizzly bears were euthanized after they were found to be suffering from a highly contagious strain of bird flu after eating infected animals in Montana.
The state’s Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) said the bear was spotted near the cities of Augusta, Dupuyer and Kalispell, which surround the Flathead National Forest.
All three bears were in poor condition and exhibited neurological problems, including disorientation and partial blindness.
The FWP said the animals had been culled, but noted that it was the first recorded case of a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in a grizzly bear.
A particularly contagious bird flu continues to plague the United States, killing more than 43 million chickens and sending egg prices skyrocketing.
Three juvenile grizzly bears infected with a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus were euthanized in Montana
All three bears were in poor condition, showing signs of disorientation and partial blindness. This was the first time the virus had been reported in a grizzly bear.Photo: A large grizzly bear roaming Bozeman, Montana
The FWP said the grizzly bears likely became infected after eating birds carrying the virus.
There have been previous reports of Asian black bears and brown bears being infected with bird flu, but this is the first time grizzly bears have been infected.
The FWP noted that when a new strain of highly contagious bird flu hit the country last year, foxes and skunks tested positive for the virus, and other predators such as raccoons and coyotes also caught the virus across the country.
Bird flu typically peaks in the spring, but the disease has lingered through 2023 and is now active in all 50 states.
As of Jan. 11, more than 57 million domestic poultry have been infected with the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of infected birds die.
Although the risk of humans contracting the virus is relatively low, bird flu can infect people who directly handle infected livestock. The CDC recorded only one case of bird flu in him last year.
In humans, the disease can cause fever, cough, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, eye infections, and difficulty breathing.
In bears and other wild mammals, the virus causes neurological problems such as seizures.
Viruses rarely affect humans, but people are feeling the effects of bird flu through their wallets.
The national average price for a dozen eggs reached $3.59 in November, up from $1.72 a year earlier, according to the latest government data.
Red Star chickens feed in the chicken coop on Tuesday at Historic Wagner Farm in Glenview, Illinois.More than 43 million egg-laying hens were slaughtered last year to contain bird flu
According to the latest government data, the national average price for 12 eggs reached $3.59 in November, up from $1.72 a year earlier. Prices have probably gone up even more since then.
The lingering bird flu outbreak, combined with soaring feed, fuel and labor costs, doubled the price of eggs, causing a lot of sticker shock for consumers.
Kelly Fischer, 46, said if prices stay high, she’ll get more serious about building backyard chicken coops in Chicago so the whole family can eat eggs.
“We’re thinking of building a chicken coop in the back of our house[with our neighbors]so eventually we want to have our own eggs instead of buying a chicken coop. Cost It’s on the north side of town.
“For me, it’s about environmental impact and trying to buy locally.”
Shoppers check eggs before purchasing at a grocery store in Glenview, Illinois, on Tuesday.Those looking to buy a dozen eggs these days should be prepared for skyrocketing prices.
In some places, it can even be difficult to find eggs on the shelves, but with total flock numbers down only about 5% from their normal number of about 320 million chickens, egg supplies are Overall holding up.
Farmers have worked to replace herds as soon as possible after the outbreak.
Jada Thomson, an agricultural economist at the University of Arkansas, says egg farmers have been steadily replacing flocks lost to bird flu last year, and with demand easing a bit, egg production will likely increase in the coming months. He said there could be some easing in prices. Finished their holiday baking.
But she said bird flu is still a wild card, which could drive up prices even more if there is a larger outbreak at poultry farms.
