Bobcats in New York State have been exposed to avian flu and some survived the virus, study finds
One of 16 bobcats tracked in a study that found widespread exposure to avian flu in bobcats in New York State. Credit: Joshua Twining
Bobcats, the elusive felines that roam throughout much of New York State, have been exposed to avian flu and some even survived the ordeal, according to a new study.
Experts said this was the first time the virus was found in a bobcat in the state and in a mammal that wasn’t already dead when it was tested.
"This is the first study, in general, that has shown antibodies," said Jennifer Bloodgood, an assistant professor of practice in the Department of Public and Ecosystem Health at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, senior author of the study. "This means the animals were exposed to the virus at some point but lived. That’s really good news."
Highly pathogenic avian flu (HPAI), also known as bird flu, is a contagious and often deadly viral disease spread by wild birds. Since the start of the outbreak in February 2022, more than 168 million birds have been affected in the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That includes 1,673 commercial and backyard flocks.
Crescent Duck Farm in Aquebogue had to euthanize 99,000 ducks after avian flu was discovered in the flock. It also can also be transmitted to mammals, including dairy cows and wildlife.
Bloodgood, who is also a wildlife veterinarian at the Cornell Wildlife Health Lab, saidit is believed the bobcats were infected by eating sick or dead birds. But they could have been exposed to feces that had the virus or even bird dander.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation, which is studying bobcats with Cornell researchers, said there are currently no bobcats on Long Island.
"DEC’s Wildlife Health Program is testing other mammals and, besides bobcats, detected H5N1 high path avian influenza (HPAI) in several red fox, and single raccoon, opossum, skunk, muskrat and a gray squirrel," DEC Wildlife Health Program leader Kevin Hynes said.
Research on mammals with HPAI is important because as the virus continues to mutate and reach different animals, some experts believe this could pave the way to greater exposure in humans. Since April 2024, there have been 70 human cases of avian influenza reported in the United States — the vast majority among people who had contact with dairy cows or poultry infected with the virus.
Researchers from the University of California at Davis and Argentina looked at an HPAI outbreak among elephant seals and made several discoveries, including mammal to mammal transmission.
"The implication that H5N1 viruses are becoming more evolutionary flexible and adapting to mammals in new ways could have global consequences for wildlife, humans, and/or livestock," the paper on their research said.
Bloodgood said the study was actually designed to trap the bobcats and give them GPS collars in order to track their movements across the state. The work took place between January and March 2024.
"But since we had to sedate them to put on the collars, I said we should collect blood, hair ... all the things to look at their health," she said.
Researchers found influenza antibodies in more than half of the 16 bobcats that were captured. Four showed exposure to the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus and five with other strains. One bobcat that originally tested negative died from the virus within five weeks.
Two that were exposed to the H5N1 are alive but scientists aren’t sure about the other two since the GLS collars stopped communicating.
"It’s mostly theory based at this point but we know from previous outbreaks of avian influenza that the virus is really good at adapting and mutating," she said. "If someone who is infected with avian influenza also got infected with the seasonal human influenza, those two viruses could reassert and make a new virus that is good at infecting people. The current avian influenza virus is not that good at affecting people or mammals, although it is better than any other previous avian influenza."
Bobcats, the elusive felines that roam throughout much of New York State, have been exposed to avian flu and some even survived the ordeal, according to a new study.
Experts said this was the first time the virus was found in a bobcat in the state and in a mammal that wasn’t already dead when it was tested.
"This is the first study, in general, that has shown antibodies," said Jennifer Bloodgood, an assistant professor of practice in the Department of Public and Ecosystem Health at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, senior author of the study. "This means the animals were exposed to the virus at some point but lived. That’s really good news."
Highly pathogenic avian flu (HPAI), also known as bird flu, is a contagious and often deadly viral disease spread by wild birds. Since the start of the outbreak in February 2022, more than 168 million birds have been affected in the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That includes 1,673 commercial and backyard flocks.
Crescent Duck Farm in Aquebogue had to euthanize 99,000 ducks after avian flu was discovered in the flock. It also can also be transmitted to mammals, including dairy cows and wildlife.
Bloodgood, who is also a wildlife veterinarian at the Cornell Wildlife Health Lab, saidit is believed the bobcats were infected by eating sick or dead birds. But they could have been exposed to feces that had the virus or even bird dander.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation, which is studying bobcats with Cornell researchers, said there are currently no bobcats on Long Island.
"DEC’s Wildlife Health Program is testing other mammals and, besides bobcats, detected H5N1 high path avian influenza (HPAI) in several red fox, and single raccoon, opossum, skunk, muskrat and a gray squirrel," DEC Wildlife Health Program leader Kevin Hynes said.
Virus is mutating
Research on mammals with HPAI is important because as the virus continues to mutate and reach different animals, some experts believe this could pave the way to greater exposure in humans. Since April 2024, there have been 70 human cases of avian influenza reported in the United States — the vast majority among people who had contact with dairy cows or poultry infected with the virus.
Researchers from the University of California at Davis and Argentina looked at an HPAI outbreak among elephant seals and made several discoveries, including mammal to mammal transmission.
"The implication that H5N1 viruses are becoming more evolutionary flexible and adapting to mammals in new ways could have global consequences for wildlife, humans, and/or livestock," the paper on their research said.
Bloodgood said the study was actually designed to trap the bobcats and give them GPS collars in order to track their movements across the state. The work took place between January and March 2024.
"But since we had to sedate them to put on the collars, I said we should collect blood, hair ... all the things to look at their health," she said.
Researchers found influenza antibodies in more than half of the 16 bobcats that were captured. Four showed exposure to the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus and five with other strains. One bobcat that originally tested negative died from the virus within five weeks.
Two that were exposed to the H5N1 are alive but scientists aren’t sure about the other two since the GLS collars stopped communicating.
"It’s mostly theory based at this point but we know from previous outbreaks of avian influenza that the virus is really good at adapting and mutating," she said. "If someone who is infected with avian influenza also got infected with the seasonal human influenza, those two viruses could reassert and make a new virus that is good at infecting people. The current avian influenza virus is not that good at affecting people or mammals, although it is better than any other previous avian influenza."
Lisa joined Newsday as a staff writer in 2019. She previously worked at amNewYork, the New York Daily News and the Asbury Park Press covering politics, government and general assignment.
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SARRA SOUNDS OFF: 1970s All-Decade team member Risa Zander On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," an interview with former Sachem head coach Risa Zander and a preview of St. Anthony's girls lacrosse team.
