Phoenix Zoo

The Phoenix Zoo announced on Oct. 24, 2022, that 14 pelicans died of a highly contagious bird flu.

The recent deaths of more than a dozen pelicans at Phoenix Zoo were caused by an avian virus first detected in Arizona in June.

Arizona Game and Fish wildlife veterinarian Anne Justice-Allen says other cases showed up among Canada geese in Chandler and Gilbert last month.

“Since then, we’ve had multiple reports around the Phoenix metropolitan area. We’ve also had reports at some of the golf courses. There were some swans that died at one of the golf courses in Mesa,” said Justice-Allen.

She also said the virus has also been found in birds in Payson and Tucson and that this strain of avian flu affects waterfowl, some raptor species, as well as poultry.