BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — The Florida Wildlife Hospital has stopped accepting patients after-hours through its drop-off boxes because of a large number of calls about sick and dying ducks near the Banana River and Indian River.

This week, state wildlife officials reported that several ducks in Brevard County have tested positive for avian influenza (HPAI), a highly pathogenic illness.

Only one wild duck brought to the hospital has tested positive for the virus so far, but vet officials are already taking precautions to protect their resident birds like owls, hawks and falcons.

The hospital is isolating patients like injured ospreys, pelicans and seagulls. The staff members are also covering their outdoor cages with tarps to prevent wild birds who might scavenge on infected dead birds from making droppings over the cages.

“Normally we love watching wild birds fly in on our property, but right now we consider every bird a threat because they could transmit this virus to our current patients and our ambassador birds,” said Tracy Frampton with Florida Wildlife Hospital.

FWH staff are using personal protective equipment to make sure they don’t get infected with the bird flu or spread it to the birds on property. While it’s rare, people can contract the virus and spread it.

Domesticated birds like chickens, ducks and turkeys are at risk of catching the avian flu and often can die.

Florida Fish and Wildlife urges people who encounter a sick bird of any kind to not touch it and give the agency a call. Individuals who need to bring a sick wild bird to FWH must talk with a staff member first. 

Earlier this week, the Brevard Zoo closed its free-flight walk-through aviaries to the public until further notice to try to protect its bird residents from the flu.