Hundreds of birds have been falling dead from the skies in Pennsylvania with scientists suggesting a reason.
The chilling occurrence may be caused by the H5N1 bird flu strain that is ravaging poultry and dairy farms across the country.
Dozens of snow geese in the Poconos had tested positive for the virus, according to wildlife experts.
“People were reporting like birds falling from the sky. It seems far-fetched, but because they become so neurologically disabled, they don’t know their whereabouts. They’re flying into trees. They’re flying into houses,” said Janine Tancredi, co-executive director of The Wilderz at Pocono Wildlife.
Tancredi said that while 35 snow geese tested for H5N1 all came back positive, her team fears the true extent of the affection is “probably like thousands.”
Residents should avoid touching dead or live birds and keep their pets away from them.
No official human cases of H5N1 have been confirmed in Pennsylvania but at least 65 Americans have already been infected across 10 states.
The CDC reassures that most infections have been mild and the general risk to the public remains low.
