A recent outbreak of bird flu on the Olympic Peninsula has claimed the lives of two wild cougars, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and conservation organization Panthera. One cougar was being tracked when its death occurred, while another was found nearby shortly after. The lack of location data for many animals makes it uncertain how widespread the infection may be among other big cats or species on the peninsula. This raises concerns, as noted by Mark Elbroch, director of Panthera’s puma program.
Source: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climate-lab/bird-flu-kills-olympic-peninsula-cougars-in-wa