Milwaukee County Zoo closes aviary for 'foreseeable future' in response to bird flu

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Herb & Nada Mahler Family Aviary at the Milwaukee County Zoo is now closed for the foreseeable future, as zookeepers monitor a nationwide outbreak of the bird flu.

The zoo sent CBS 58 photos of some of the beautiful bird's staff hope to protect. That's why the gates outside the Aviary are now up.

"So, we decided to close the aviary building kind of out of an over-abundance of caution to protect our birds," said Dr. Christy Rettenmund, senior staff veterinarian, Milwaukee County Zoo.

Since December, birds have been dying by the thousands from Chicago and up into Wisconsin, like red breasted mergansers our crew spotted Wednesday in Kenosha.

"When there's a large die off of birds, you end up with a lot of avian influenza concentrated in one area and then the concern is that scavengers or other birds that come into that area will become infected and they could come up to Milwaukee," said Dr. Rettenmund.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources tells us a test in Racine in December came back positive for bird flu. The Milwaukee County Zoo has 350 birds in its aviary, including 95 different species. Staff want to shield them from what could be outside these walls in this free-flying population of birds.

One concern is that wild birds that come and go, like ducks and geese, could be carriers.

"So, the biggest risk to the indoor animals in the aviary is that either the public or keeper staff would walk through avian feces, or poop, on the ground and then trek that into the aviary," said Dr. Rettenmund.

Limited staff entering the aviary are doing so with dedicated boots. Since mid-December, bird flu's been on the rise. A call line in Chicago at 773-988-1867 (to report dead birds) has taken dozens of reports every day for the last month and a half.

"And they're not only along the lakefront, some of them are also more inland. We found them in parking lots and shopping malls," said Annette Prince, Director of Chicago Bird Collision Monitors.

Although rare, bird flu can be transmitted to humans. The northwest part of Wisconsin has had one presumptive case so far this year in Barron County. If you find a dead bird, limit your exposure to it by wearing gloves and a mask. The DNR says the best thing to do is stay away and report it.