Overview
- Commissioner Patty Sheehan said 11 birds, including 9 swans, have been found dead since December 23 after earlier reports cited 12 swan deaths.
- City staff have secured the carcasses for necropsy and are awaiting diagnostic confirmation before determining the cause.
- Officials suspect highly pathogenic avian influenza based on a 2024 outbreak at the same park but emphasize that the cause has not been confirmed.
- Crews removed feeders, disinfected surfaces, and posted guidance asking visitors to avoid contact with birds and droppings, and the park remains open.
- Sheehan rejected social media claims of a cover-up and said unverified preliminary results shared by volunteers are not official city findings.