As of October 15, 2024, the Incident Command established to respond to Highly Pathogenic Influenza (HPAI) in California condors will be rescinding the delegation of authority. HPAI continues to be a threat on the landscape for birds and other wildlife, especially as the virus evolves, however, there has not been an outbreak in condors since spring 2023.
The Incident Command remained intact beyond the 2023 outbreak to manage and implement vaccinations and support recovery partners in upgrading facilities with improved biosecurity measures. When the virus jumped to dairy cattle in 2024, there was concern about potentially impacting condors, as this is a proffered food source provided to release birds. Luckily, there have been no incidents of HPAI spreading from cattle to condors as of this report.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Incident Command Team, in collaboration with partner agencies, continues to develop and implement conservation strategies to help California condors regarding Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
Vaccinations
Based on the results of the vaccine trial, the Service determined it is appropriate to move forward with HPAI vaccinations of captively managed and free-flying condors. The Incident Command and recovery partners continue to coordinate on implementing vaccinations.
As of this report, 94 birds have received at least the initial dose of the vaccine. The vaccine is being administered with the prime and boost approach (vaccination of 0.5ml on two occasions a minimum of 21 days apart). All condors are vaccinated by veterinarians licensed in the state according to USDA/State Veterinarian-approved site-specific plans.
Antibody titers collected during the trial indicate the vaccine may reduce the severity of an infection and minimize the likelihood of mortality. Vaccinating condors with the approved vaccine may provide some protection, and even if minimal, it could reduce the amount of mortality and decrease the impact to the flock and recovery efforts if another outbreak were to occur.
Field Operations
The Peregrine Fund conducted winter trapping designed to overlap with hunting season to evaluate lead levels in the Southwest flock in Arizona. During this routine trapping, blood samples were collected to determine whether any of the birds showed antibody titers to HPAI, indicating exposure to the virus. So far, samples from 21 birds have been collected and tested. About half of the samples show natural antibody titers to the H5N1 strain of HPAI meaning the birds were exposed to the virus and naturally survived.
This will be our final weekly report for 2023 unless circumstances with HPAI in the condor populations change. The Incident Command will provide another update in January 2024 when new information is available. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Incident Command Team, in collaboration with partner agencies, continues to develop and implement conservation strategies to help California condors as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) spreads on the landscape during fall migration season. Based on the results of the vaccine trial, the Service determined it is appropriate to move forward with HPAI vaccinations of captively managed and free-flying condors. Read the full incident report here.
November 17, 2023
The Incident Command continues to collaborate with condor recovery partners to support release of vaccinated condors. Thus far, six vaccinated birds have been released across the range. In Arizona, The Peregrine Fund released the last rescued condor that survived an exposure to HPAI in the spring. Condor 757 had natural antibodies from the exposure but was provided a booster vaccination prior to being released earlier this week. Additionally, the Northern California Condor Restoration Program and the Service’s Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex in southern California have released a total of five vaccinated birds. Read the full incident report here.
November 3, 2023
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Incident Command Team, in collaboration with partner agencies, continues to develop and implement conservation strategies to help California condors as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) spreads on the landscape during fall migration season. In the upcoming weeks of November, partners operating California condor release sites in northern, central and southern California will begin releasing the first HPAI vaccinated condors into the wild. The timing of the releases will continue to be dependent on the individual condor’s behavior and local weather conditions at the release site. Read the full incident report here.
October 16, 2023
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Incident Command Team, in collaboration with partner agencies, continues to develop and implement conservation strategies to help California condors considering Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Early vaccine trial results available; birds from L.A. Zoo, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and Oregon Zoo participated in trial.
Birds from L.A. Zoo, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and Oregon Zoo participated in trial. Final analysis for the samples from Group 1 for condors are complete. USDA conducted hemagglutination inhibition tests on serum samples collected 42 days after the vaccination. The samples were evaluated for antibody titers that are commonly used as surrogate markers against influenza and other pathogens.
Group 1 received a vaccination of 0.5ml on two occasions (initial injection and booster). Results show that 60% of the condors had titers that are expected to provide partial protection against mortality, while 10% of those birds had titers expected to provide protection against mortality. Read the full incident report here.
September 29, 2023
As of September 29, 2023, no decision has been made regarding the vaccinations in pre-release, captive, or free-flying condors. The Incident Command will make recommendations and decisions based on the vaccine trial results, currently pending. The Service and our partners in California condor recovery continue to take steps towards releasing birds this fall and winter, implementing biosafety and security precautions considering the ongoing threat of HPAI.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Incident Command Team, in collaboration with partner agencies, continues to develop and implement conservation strategies to help California condors considering Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
California Condor Vaccination Trial Results on blood samples collected from a segment of the birds on day 21 and 42 are pending analysis by USDA. Vaccination trials of condors in managed care continues. All vaccinations have been completed. Veterinarians are monitoring the birds and continuing to collect blood samples consistent with trial design. Twenty condors have received the vaccine, and five condors are serving as a control group.
Group 1 received a vaccination of 0.5ml on two occasions (initial injection and booster).
10 condors completed vaccine administration.
10 condors have completed the 42-day trial period.
Group 2 received a single 1 ml dose vaccine.
10 condors completed vaccine administration.
6 condors have completed the 42-day trial period.
4 condors will complete the 42-day trial on October 4.
Group 3 includes control birds. They will not receive vaccines, but blood samples will be collected.
Field Operations The California Condor Recovery Program is taking steps towards releasing birds this fall and winter condor releases for the 2023 season. We do not anticipate birds will be released prior to making a final recommendation and decision about vaccinating pre-release condors.
September 15, 2023
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Incident Command Team, in collaboration with partner agencies, continues to develop and implement conservation strategies to help California condors considering Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Strategies include implementation of vaccine trials, field monitoring, and adaptation of current management practices to be increasingly nimble and flexible in response to future HPAI outbreaks.
Vaccination trials of condors in managed care continues. All vaccinations have been completed. Veterinarians are monitoring the birds and continuing to collect blood samples consistent with trial design. Twenty condors have received the vaccine, and five condors are serving as a control group. Trials will run into October. Results on blood samples collect from all birds on day 21 and 42 are pending analysis by USDA.
Group 1 received a vaccination of 0.5ml on two occasions (initial injection and booster).
10 condors completed vaccine administration.
10 condors have completed the 42-day trial period.
Group 2 received a single 1 ml dose vaccine.
10 condors completed vaccine administration.
6 condors have completed the 42-day trial period.
Group 3 includes control birds. They will not receive vaccines, but blood samples will be collected.
Ongoing Field Operations
Construction of new condor pens at Bureau of Land Management’s Vermillion Cliffs and Liberty Wildlife are underway. New infrastructure will improve biosecurity and capacity for the program to respond to any future disease outbreak.
August 25, 2023
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Incident Command Team, in collaboration with partner agencies, continues to develop and implement conservation strategies to help California condors considering Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Vaccination trials of condors in managed care continues. All vaccinations have been completed.Read the full update here.
August 18, 2023
Final analysis for the samples from the black vulture portion of the vaccine trial are complete. USDA conducted hemagglutination inhibition tests on serum samples collected 42 days after the vaccination. The samples were evaluated for antibody titers that are commonly used as surrogate markers against influenza and other pathogens. Read the full update here.
August 11, 2023
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Incident Command Team, in collaboration with partner agencies, continues to develop and implement conservation strategies to help California condors in light of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Strategies include implementation of vaccine trials, field monitoring, and adaptation of current management practices to be increasingly nimble and flexible to improve response to future HPAI outbreaks.
Incident Update Black Vulture Vaccination Trial Results: Titers (concentration of antibodies) present in the birds are in the final stages of being evaluated by USDA’s Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory. Results will be reported soon.
California Condor Vaccination Trial: Vaccination of condors in managed care continues. Blood samples from the birds will be collected at 21-days and 42-days following vaccination to evaluate the immune response from two different vaccination approaches. Ten condors will participate in each group for a total of 20 condors receiving the vaccine, and five condors will serve as a control group. Samples collected on August 8 and August 15 will be batched together for analysis. Trials will run into September. Group 1: Vaccination of 0.5ml on two occasions (initial injection and booster).
10 condors administered first dose of 0.5ml vaccine.
Three condors (the first birds to receive the vaccine) received a 21-day booster dose 0.5ml vaccine. Samples were collected for analysis.
Group 2: Single vaccination of 1ml.
Six condors administered single dose of 1ml vaccine.
Four birds yet to be vaccinated.
Group 3: Control birds, no vaccinations, only blood sample collections.
Ongoing Field Operations Three of the birds that were rescued and received care for HPAI in Arizona were released back into the wild on August 5. Blood samples evaluated by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory show that all three birds have some natural immunity to HPAI after surviving exposure to the virus.
August 4, 2023
Vaccination of condors in managed care continues. Blood samples from the birds will be collected at 21-days and 42-days following vaccination to evaluate the immune response from two different vaccination approaches. The first sample will be collected on August 8 and the second samples August 15. These samples will be batched together for analysis. Trials will run into September. Read the full update here.
July 28, 2023
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Incident Command Team, in collaboration with partner agencies, continues to develop and implement conservation strategies to help California condors in light of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).The Peregrine Fund is preparing to release three of birds that received treatment for HPAI at Liberty Wildlife. All have some level of immunity to HPAI based on Hemagglutination Inhibition tests performed on their blood samples by USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratory. Read the full update here.
July 21, 2023
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Incident Command Team, in collaboration with partner agencies, continues to develop and implement conservation strategies to help California condors in light of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Strategies include implementation of vaccine trials, field monitoring, and adaptation of current management practices to be increasingly nimble and flexible to improve response to future HPAI outbreaks.
Black Vulture Vaccination Trial Results
No additional information since the last report. Titers (concentration of antibodies) present in the birds are still being evaluated by USDA’s Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory through refined testing methods to improve clarity in the results.
California Condor Vaccination Trial
Vaccination of condors in managed care began this week with three condors. The birds are doing well, and no adverse reactions have been observed during the evaluations on Wednesday and today, Friday July 21.
The trial will now continue with additional condors next week. Blood samples from the birds will be collected 21-days and 42-days following vaccination to evaluate the immune response from two different vaccination approaches. Group one will receive a vaccination of 0.5ml on two occasions, 21 days apart (initial injection and booster). Group two will receive a single vaccination of 1ml. A third group will serve as a control and receive no vaccinations, only blood sample collections. The administration of the vaccine in a single dose is being explored because it could streamline vaccinations in wild, free-flying birds if deemed appropriate. Trials will run into September.
July 14, 2023
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Incident Command Team, in collaboration with partner agencies, continues to develop and implement conservation strategies to help California condors in light of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Strategies include implementation of vaccine trials, field monitoring, and adaptation of current management practices to be increasingly nimble and flexible to improve response to future HPAI outbreaks. Read the full update here.
June 30, 2023
The Incident Command does not plan to produce a weekly update the week of July 3 – 7 and will resume this report the week of July 10.
Incident Update
The final blood samples from the black vulture trial were collected this week. Samples are being analyzed and results are pending. The Incident Command is continuing to prepare to implement vaccinations in condors in managed care. Vaccinations are expected to initiate in mid-July with the standard application of the vaccine - initial shot followed by a booster shot 21 days later - in three captive California condors to verify safety before proceeding with additional bird in the trial.
Ongoing Field Operations
The California Condor Recovery Program continue to implement standard operations and we are hopeful this will include the release of juveniles this year. However, due to the dynamic nature of HPAI outbreaks, and logistics around potential future vaccinations, adjustments will be made accordingly.
June 23, 2023
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Incident Command Team, in collaboration with partner agencies, continues to develop and implement conservation strategies to help California condors in light of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Strategies include implementation of vaccine trials, field monitoring, adaptation of current management practices to be increasingly nimble and flexible to improve response to future HPAI outbreaks. The Incident Command will provide updates on the incident in this format on a routine basis until further notice.
Incident Update
Samples collected from the black vultures in the vaccine trial on day 31 are being analyzed; results are pending. The final sample for the trial in black vultures to evaluate response to the vaccine will be collected next week.
The Incident Command is continuing to prepare to implement vaccinations in condors in managed care. We anticipate beginning the vaccinations around mid-July with the standard application of the vaccine, which is an initial shot followed by a booster shot 21 days later, in three captive California condors to verify safety.
Ongoing Field Operations
The California Condor Recovery Program continue to implement standard operations and we are hopeful this will include the release of juveniles in the fall. However, due to the dynamic nature of HPAI outbreaks, adjustments will be made accordingly.
June 16, 2023
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Incident Command Team, in collaboration with partner agencies, continues to develop and implement conservation strategies to help California condors in light of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Strategies include implementation of vaccine trials, adaptation of current management practices to be increasingly nimble and flexible to improve response to future HPAI outbreaks. The Incident Command will provide updates on the incident in this format on a routine basis until further notice.
Incident Update
All vultures that received the HPAI vaccine as part of the initial trial on May 16 and June 5, appear to be in good health with no vaccine site reactions.
The preliminary antibody tests with blood samples collected in the black vultures 3 weeks after vaccination show that 2 individuals demonstrated clear positive titers to HPAI (commonly referred to antibody response) and several individuals indicated marginal antibody response. The second dose of the vaccine was administered the same day the samples were collected. Additional monitoring is necessary to determine the effectiveness of the vaccine in producing an antibody response which would be anticipated to demonstrate protection from the current HPAI virus.
Having demonstrated that the vaccine in the single and double dose application was safe in black vultures, the Incident Command is continuing to prepare to implement vaccinations in condors in managed care. Vaccination of condors will be administered by a state-licensed veterinarian at facilities with both state approval and a USDA-approved vaccination plan. Vaccinations are expected to commence with 3 captive California condors with a single dose to verify safety sometime after June 25.
Although the initial outbreak of HPAI in condors in Arizona appears to have ended, wildlife officials anticipate HPAI to spike during migration seasons and the potential for condors to be affected by the virus remains. As such, field monitoring across the population continues. The California Condor Recovery Program partners are continuing our standard management practices; and we are hopeful this will include the release of juveniles in the fall. However, due to the dynamic nature of HPAI outbreaks, adjustments will be made accordingly.
Carolina Raptor Center Director of Avian Operations Kristin Dean, holds a Black Vulture for North Carolina Department of Agriculture State Veterinarian Dr. Mike Martin, while U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Veterinarian Dr. Samantha Gibbs draws up a dose of the HPAI vaccine. The vultures are serving as surrogates for the California condor to determine safety and assess the level of immunity induced by the vaccine.
On June 6, one of the cohorts of black vultures (10 of the 28 vultures) in the vaccine trial received their second dose of the HPAI vaccine at the Carolina Raptor Center, just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. The other cohort of 10 vultures received a single double dose when the vaccines was initially administered on May 16. The remaining eight vultures are a control group and did not receive any vaccination. The two vaccinated cohorts will allow us to compare the effectiveness of the vaccine when administered through a single shot and through staggered shots. Blood samples were collected from all the black vultures in the trial at the same time as vaccinations. June 6 is 21 days after the first vaccine and is typically that amount of time needed to observe an immune response from the vaccine should it occur. Samples have been sent to the USDA’s Southeast Poultry Research Center for analysis. Since the vaccine has thus far been proven safe with the black vulture trials at the Carolina Raptor Center, the IC plans to move forward with vaccinating condors in managed care sometime after June 21.
June 2, 2023
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Incident Command Team, in collaboration with partner agencies, continues to develop and implement conservation strategies to help California condors in light of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Strategies include implementation of vaccine trials, adaptation of current management practices to be increasingly nimble and flexible to improve response to future HPAI outbreaks. The Incident Command will provide updates on the incident in this format on a routine basis until further notice. Read the full update here: https://www.fws.gov/story/2023-06/california-condor-hpai-response-updat…
May 26, 2023
Partners and stakeholders have initiated vaccine trials and are working to improve the ability of flock managers in swiftly responding to potential future HPAI outbreaks through management of the flocks, and facility and infrastructure improvements. On May 16, HPAI vaccination trials began with 20 vultures and eight controls as surrogates for the condor to determine safety and effectiveness of the vaccine. To read the full update, visit: https://www.fws.gov/story/2023-05/california-condor-hpai-response-updat…
May 19, 2023
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Incident Command Team, in collaboration with partner agencies, continues to respond to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also known as bird flu, in the Southwest flock of California condors. Partners and stakeholders have initiated vaccine trials, are working to improve the ability of flock managers in swiftly responding to potential future HPAI outbreaks, determine appropriate timing for the release of birds in care, and support field monitoring. The Incident Command will provide updates on the incident and field operations in this format on a routine basis until further notice. To read the full update, visit: https://www.fws.gov/story/2023-05/california-condor-hpai-response-updat…
May 16, 2023
Today, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is taking emergency action to help protect the critically endangered California condors after several have died from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). APHIS has approved the emergency use of HPAI vaccine in an attempt to prevent additional deaths of these birds. Read the full announcement here: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/stakeholder-info/sa_by_date/s…
May 12, 2023
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Incident Command Team, in collaboration with partner agencies, continues to respond to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also known as bird flu, in the Southwest flock of California condors. Partners and stakeholders are working to enhance supportive care facilities for recovering birds and a newborn chick, maintain support for field operations and monitoring, coordinate with USDA regarding potential vaccination of condors and develop long-term strategies for potential future HPAI outbreaks. On March 28, The Peregrine Fund captured a distressed female with an active nest for treatment; she was later confirmed HPAI positive and died. The male diligently continued to incubate the egg; however, there was concern for his health if he continued to stay in the nest cave, which was suspected to be contaminated with HPAI from the female. To read the full update, visit: https://www.fws.gov/story/2023-05/may-12-2023-incident-command-californ…
May 5, 2023
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Incident Command Team, in collaboration with partner agencies, continues to monitor and respond to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also known as bird flu, in the Southwest flock of California condors. As of May 5, all confirmed HPAI positive condors have been found in northern Arizona. Bird flu has not yet been confirmed in the condor populations in Utah (the Southwest flock spans the Arizona-Utah border), California or Baja California, Mexico. The Incident Command will provide updates in this format on a routine basis until further notice. To read the full update, visit: https://www.fws.gov/story/2023-05/california-condor-hpai-response-updat…
April 28, 2023
On April 15, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service established an Incident Command Team to respond to the outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also known as bird flu, in the Southwest (Arizona-Utah) flock of California condors. To read the full update, please visit: https://www.fws.gov/story/2023-04/california-condor-hpai-response-updat…
April 20, 2023
The number of deceased condors and samples tested for HPAI in northern Arizona remain unchanged. Please refer to the update from April 17 below for additional information.
April 17, 2023
Free-flying California condors in Arizona continue to be confirmed with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). To be as transparent as possible to the public and stakeholders about the potential extent of this outbreak, until further notice, the Service will disclose and report all deceased condors in the Southwest Flock found on or after March 30, 2023, prior to necropsy and preliminary testing. As results are confirmed at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Service Laboratory, we will report them as "confirmed HPAI."
As of April 17, 2023, 20 condors have died in the Arizona-Utah flock; HPAI has been confirmed for 10 of those condors. Eight birds were captured and brought in for supportive care. Four of those condors died shortly thereafter and are included in the total of 20 deceased birds. Four condors are still receiving supportive care and have shown improvement. Learn more about HPAI.
Background
On April 7, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) was publicly confirmed as the cause of mortality for three California condors found in northern Arizona, according to wildlife officials. The Arizona-Utah population moves throughout northern Arizona and southern Utah, using the landscape within Grand Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, the Kaibab Plateau, and surrounding areas. To date, the virus has not been detected in the other condor populations in California or Baja California, Mexico.
On March 9, The Peregrine Fund, which manages the Arizona-Utah condor flock, first observed a bird in the wild exhibiting signs of illness, initially suspected to be lead poisoning. Crews continued to monitor this bird and others showing similar behavior. On March 20, they collected a deceased female below her nest, which was the first bird confirmed positive with HPAI.
Upon collection, the bird was went to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Clark R. Bavin National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory for necropsy to determine the cause of death. Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Lab analyzed samples, and preliminary results indicated the bird tested positive for HPAI subtype H5N1. The positive result was confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Service Laboratory on March 30.
When initially reported by partners on April 4, a total of three deceased birds were confirmed as HPAI positive.
California condor populations face multiple stressors, such as exposure to lead shot and habitat degradation, that have reduced the resiliency of the population. To address the unfolding threat of HPAI, coordination is ongoing with avian influenza experts, veterinarians, and Tribal, state and federal partners across the condor’s range. California condor recovery partners are mobilizing resources and taking preemptive steps to protect wild birds from HPAI. Across the condor’s range, daily activities continue, such as captive breeding and the monitoring of breeding and nesting sites.
Potential exposure of HPAI is expected to rise during the spring migration of birds north to their breeding grounds. HPAI has been detected in all U.S. states, except Hawaii, in wild and domestic animals.
HPAI is considered low risk as a human health concern, according to the Centers for Disease Control; however, infections in humans have been reported. HPAI is highly contagious in wildlife and can spread quickly by several routes, including bird-to-bird contact, environmental contamination with fecal material, and via exposed clothing, shoes and vehicles. To protect people and birds, it is important to take precautions to prevent spread of the virus.
The Southwest Condor Working Group is supporting The Peregrine Fund and collaborating on monitoring condor health and behavior, identifying symptomatic birds, and transporting distressed birds to Liberty Wildlife, where they are receiving supportive care.
Ways to help
If you see a condor exhibiting any of the following signs of illness in Arizona or Utah, please contact The Peregrine Fund at (928) 352-8551 or condorprogram@peregrinefund.org. Signs include lethargy, incoordination, presenting as dull or unresponsive, holding head in an unusual position, and walking in circles.
If you see condors, please observe from a distance. Stress can be harmful to birds exhibiting symptoms of compromised health. Please be respectful and limit human disturbance when encountering these birds on public lands.
Report bird mortalities to your state wildlife management agency immediately so that bird die-offs can be investigated and tested for avian influenza: Report dead wild birds in Arizona call USDA 1-866-536-7593 and dead wild birds in Utah to local DWR office or call USDA 1-866-536-7593.
Please follow the below guidance to help limit the spread of the virus and avoid bird-human contact: To report dead or sick animals, please contact your state wildlife agency.
Keep your family, including pets, a safe distance away from wildlife.
Do not feed, handle or approach sick or dead animals or their droppings.
Always wash your hands after working or playing outside.
Prevent contact of domestic or captive birds with wild birds.
Leave young animals alone. Often, the parent animals are close by and will return for their young. For guidance on orphaned or injured wild birds, please contact your nearest wildlife rehabilitation center, state wildlife agency, or local land management agency.
As of October 15, 2024, the Incident Command established to respond to Highly Pathogenic Influenza (HPAI) in California condors will be rescinding the delegation of authority. HPAI continues to be a threat on the landscape for birds and other wildlife, especially as the virus evolves, however,...
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Incident Command Team, in collaboration with partner agencies, continues to develop and implement conservation strategies to help California condors considering Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Incident Command Team, in collaboration with partner agencies, continues to develop and implement conservation strategies to help California condors considering Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Strategies include implementation of vaccine trials, field...
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Incident Command Team, in collaboration with partner agencies, continues to develop and implement conservation strategies to help California condors considering Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Strategies include implementation of vaccine trials, field...
Vaccination of condors in managed care continues. Blood samples from the birds will be collected at 21-days and 42-days following vaccination to evaluate the immune response from two different vaccination approaches. The first sample will be collected on August 8 and the second samples August 15. ...
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Incident Command Team, in collaboration with partner agencies, continues to develop and implement conservation strategies to help California condors in light of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Strategies include implementation of vaccine trials, field...
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Incident Command Team, in collaboration with partner agencies, continues to develop and implement conservation strategies to help California condors in light of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Strategies include implementation of vaccine trials, field...
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Incident Command Team, in collaboration with partner agencies, continues to develop and implement conservation strategies to help California condors in light of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Strategies include implementation of vaccine trials,...
Partners and stakeholders have initiated vaccine trials and are working to improve the ability of flock managers in swiftly responding to potential future HPAI outbreaks through management of the flocks, and facility and infrastructure improvements. The Incident Command will provide updates on the...
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Incident Command Team, in collaboration with partner agencies, continues to respond to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also known as bird flu, in the Southwest flock of California condors. Partners and stakeholders have initiated vaccine trials, are...
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Incident Command Team, in collaboration with partner agencies, continues to respond to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also known as bird flu, in the Southwest flock of California condors. Partners and stakeholders are working to enhance supportive...
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Incident Command Team, in collaboration with partner agencies, continues to monitor and respond to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also known as bird flu, in the Southwest flock of California condors. As of May 5, all confirmed HPAI positive condors...
On April 15, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service established an Incident Command Team to respond to the outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also known as bird flu, in the Southwest (Arizona-Utah) flock of California condors. The Incident Command structure facilitates additional...
Marble Canyon, Arizona – Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed as the cause of mortality for three California condors found in northern Arizona, according to wildlife officials. The Arizona-Utah population moves throughout northern Arizona and southern Utah, using the...
