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Published on January 25, 2025
Brockton's D.W. Field Park Closed Due to Suspected Bird Flu OutbreakSource: DW Field Park

The burgeoning concerns of bird flu have prompted officials to temporarily close down D.W. Field Park in Brockton, Massachusetts, where signs of a possible outbreak surfaced. Visitors are urged to avoid interacting with both dead and injured birds; a point stressed in conjoint statements released by the City of Brockton, the town of Avon, and the park authorities on social media and municipal websites, stating explicitly, "PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH ANY INJURED OR DECEASED BIRDS," NBC Boston reported.

Amidst the park's closure, earlier accounts from park officials detailed the discovery of deceased swans and geese on the park's Upper Porter Pond, with some images even capturing the grim scene of wildlife succumbing on its frozen surface, the situation followed on the heels of suspected bird flu-related wildlife deaths at Billington Sea in Plymouth, and confirmed cases at UMass Amherst earlier in the month, the rise in avian flu cases echoes a nation-wide concern for wildlife health and safety.

The escalating situation has provoked a joint effort between Brockton's Parks Department and various state departments, as they collaborate to monitor and intervene where necessary. There's an emphasis on public precautions, which include recommendations to refrain from feeding birds in the park and instructions to report any sightings of sick or dead wild birds to the state via specified online reporting forms, which can be found according to the WCVB announcement.

Bird flu, although widespread among birds, is not commonly contracted by humans, yet the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has noted a slight uptick in human cases with one reported fatality, public health vigilance, and wildlife management thus remaining at the forefront as officials navigate this potential outbreak, all keeping a close eye on the evolving situation managing both the park's status and the health of its avian inhabitants.