Eight dead skunks had bird flu in British Columbia

The skunks may have contracted H5N1 by feeding on infected wild birds.

Eight skunks that were found dead in February in Vancouver and Richmond, Colombia British Columbia, were declared positive for avian influenza.

The Ministry of Agriculture specifies that the animals were infected with the H5N1 strain, which caused the death of million individuals in poultry farms since the outbreak began in April 2022.

The skunks were found in residential areas of both cities and were taken to the Animal Health Center veterinary laboratory to be checked for deliberate poisoning.

The Department says in a statement that skunks may have contracted H5N1 by feeding on infected wild birds.

The statement states that while avian influenza in skunks is considered a low risk to human health, there are always risks when people or pets come into contact with sick or dead wild animals.

As of last April, the Department says the Wildlife infected with avian flu included over 20 species of wild birds, skunks and a fox found in rural areas of the province.