The Saint Louis Zoo is monitoring the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus closely, especially during the fall and spring bird migration seasons. During your next visit, you may notice some of our birds have been temporarily moved indoors and a few bird exhibits are closed as a precaution against the HPAI virus. This is an important and necessary step to ensure the safety of animals in our care at a time of increased risk associated with the onset of the migratory season. The primary risk to the birds at the Zoo would come from wild birds that land on Zoo grounds.
Last week, Saint Louis Zoo staff retrieved a deceased wild wood duck from the Cove lake in the center of the Zoo. Preliminary tests indicate the bird was positive for Avian Influenza, which is not uncommon among migratory birds. The Zoo has sent samples for further testing to identify if this was a case of an HPAI strain. The Zoo also enacted a higher level of biosecurity to protect Saint Louis Zoo animals.
The birds at the Zoo continue to receive exceptional care, and no birds or other animals under our care have been showing clinical signs or been diagnosed with this virus.
While some of our birds are able to remain safely outside where their habitats provide protection, some birds have been moved indoors where guests may not be able to see them. This includes a pair of trumpeter swans, two Aleutian cackling geese and nine swan geese. Humboldt penguins that live outdoors at Penguin & Puffin Coast will come indoors overnight.
The Cypress Swamp and Bird House will be closed to guests until further notice, and Penguin & Puffin Coast will close an hour early each day, so that staff can complete deep cleaning of the public space. We are temporarily discontinuing sales for some of the Zoo’s Behind-the-Scenes Tours during migratory bird season.
These measures, along with additional staff safety protocols, are in place to mitigate common areas of human and animal foot traffic, which has been identified as a way HPAI can spread.
The Zoo continues to prioritize the safety of the animals in our care. We are working collaboratively with the State Veterinarian, United States Department of Agriculture and Missouri Department of Conservation, and we are prepared to take additional steps as needed.
Please be assured that HPAI does not pose any immediate human health concerns at the Zoo. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers the current public health risk to humans for HPAI to be low. The best resource for Avian Influenza questions is on the Missouri Department of Agriculture website.
We are hopeful to get all the birds back outside and open the Bird House and Cypress Swamp as soon as it is safe to do so. We appreciate your understanding.