1,500 migratory Sandhill cranes die in bird flu outbreak

The Trump administration is attempting to rehire USDA officials who were fired over the weekend for their involvement in the bird flu response. A significant number of sandhill cranes have been killed by bird flu in Indiana, prompting volunteers to collect the dead birds to reduce the risk to pets and children. This outbreak is considered one of the largest bird die-offs caused by avian flu in recent years. Sandhill cranes are a popular species in the U.S., drawing tourists to festivals and bird-watching locations. The outbreak also raises concerns about the endangered whooping crane population, as they share habitat with sandhill cranes. Avian flu has killed millions of birds in the U.S. since the outbreak began, affecting commercially grown chickens, turkeys, ducks, and other domestic birds. The virus has been detected in wildlife as well, including bears, harbor seals, foxes, and skunks. Concerns for the potential mutation of the virus to become more dangerous to humans have also been raised. The Sandhill crane deaths highlight the risk to whooping cranes, of which there are only a few hundred remaining globally. Other countries have also experienced mass crane die-offs due to bird flu, emphasizing the global impact of this infectious respiratory illness.