Study finds H5N1 in more than 84% of dead black vultures
Mar 2nd 2026
A University of Georgia study of 134 carcasses across seven states found H5N1 in 84% of dead black vultures and warns that scavenging behavior may drive year-round spread and a larger unseen toll.
- Researchers tested 134 dead black vultures from seven states in 2022 and 2023 and found 84% positive for highly pathogenic H5N1.
- Vultures scavenging infected carcasses likely sustain transmission beyond the usual bird flu season, creating a year-round cycle.
- Sustained transmission raises the chance the virus will mutate and could increase risks to other species, including humans, though no such spillover from vultures has been documented.
- About half of infected vultures may survive and develop antibodies, offering some population resilience.
- High mortality in common scavengers can disrupt ecosystems, and even a small number of deaths could threaten rare species like California condors.