PORT ANGELES — Two wild cougars were found dead in Clallam County after they were infected by the bird flu, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and Panthera, a global wild cat conservation organization, confirmed Thursday.
This is the first known time that cougars have been killed by the bird flu in the state, WDFW veterinarian Katherine Haman said.
Despite serving as further evidence that the virus can infect mammals, Haman said this should not be cause for additional concern about human infections. Without more testing, she said this is not any indication of whether the virus is becoming more adaptive.
“What it does tell us is that the virus is still very much on the landscape,” Haman said.
The bird flu, a type of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) that alsois known as H5N1, has been circulating in Washington since at least 2022, the Seattle Times reported.
Since its initial discovery in several backyard poultry flocks, the virus has been reported across the state in skunks, a bobcat, harbor seals, racoons and numerous wild bird species, WDFW said.
Although other states have seen bird flu outbreaks in cattle and dairy herds, leading to added risks from drinking raw milk, Haman said similar outbreaks have not occurred in Washington.
Confirmed HPAI infections have increased in the state since October 2024, correlating with the annual fall wild bird migration, WDFW said.
This fall, Jefferson County found HPAI infections in bald eagles and green winged teals. Clallam County found HPAI infections in red-tailed hawks and, most recently, in cougars.
Mammals appear to contract the disease by eating other infected animals, Haman said, and do not appear to be able to spread it to each other.
Both the infected cougars, young males between 2 and 3 years old, were found in November.
Cougars, and other mammals, can contract the virus by eating an infected bird or another carnivore that ate an infected bird, according to Dr. Mark Elbroch, Puma Program Director for Panthera.
When cougars are infected, Haman said they display non-traditional behavior. One of the infected cougars, spotted near Blyn, was weak and unable to clear a short fence, was not afraid of other animals and had been walking in a large circular pattern for several days, she added.
Once reported, that cougar was euthanized by WDFW staff, Haman said.
The first reported case of a human bird flu infection in the state was in October. Since then, there have been a total of 14 confirmed and probable cases — all of them associated with an outbreak at an egg farm in Franklin County.
Overall, 61 cases of humans contracting the virus have been confirmed across the United States this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Most of them have been found in dairy and poultry farm workers.
Despite the cougar deaths and Louisiana’s recent report of the first severe case of human infected with the bird flu, the CDC is maintaining that the risk of the virus to the general population is low.
However, people with potential exposure to infected animals, either due to recreational or job-related activities, are at higher risk and should take precautions, including wearing personal protective equipment, state Department of Health Communications Consultant Mike Lange said.
Individuals also should be wary of their pets becoming infected. While it is believed to be rare for the virus to infect domestic dogs, WDFW said cats are more vulnerable. To protect all pets, don’t let them come into contact with dead animals.
If people see any sick or dead wildlife, they should report it using the WDFW’s online survey form.
Sick or dead domestic animals should be reported to the state Department of Agriculture’s public phone line at 1-800-606-3056.
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Reporter Emma Maple can be reached by email at emma.maple@peninsuladailynews.com.
