(Airdate: September 13, 2023) Jackie Canterbury talks with Dr. Katie Hanan, Wildlife Veterinarian and Dr. Scott Pearson, Senior Research Scientist – both with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife – who answer questions about the recent avian flu outbreak on Rat Island off Marrowstone Island and discuss the outlook for the future. The outbreak is the first H5N1 avian flu event in the marine environment in Washington state. We are estimating an 80% colony loss on Rat island which hosts breeding Caspian Terns, Olympic Gulls, and Harbor Seals.
