California Elephant Seal Outbreak Halts Tourist Visits

Seven seal pups have tested positive for avian flu at a state park, prompting closures.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Seven elephant seal pups have tested positive for an avian flu virus at California's Año Nuevo State Park, and several more animals are showing signs of the illness, prompting officials to cancel tourist visits to the park.

Why it matters

The outbreak raises concerns about the potential spread of avian flu to other wildlife populations and the impact on the local tourism industry that relies on visitors viewing the elephant seals.

The details

The infected seal pups were discovered during routine health checks at the state park, which is home to a large breeding colony of northern elephant seals. Park officials have closed the park to visitors as they work to contain the outbreak and monitor the health of the rest of the seal population.

  • The outbreak was first detected in late February 2026.

The players

Año Nuevo State Park

A California state park that is home to a large breeding colony of northern elephant seals.

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What’s next

Park officials are working to determine the source of the avian flu outbreak and implement measures to prevent its spread to other wildlife populations in the area.

The takeaway

This outbreak highlights the vulnerability of wildlife populations to emerging diseases and the importance of monitoring and protecting sensitive ecosystems like the elephant seal colony at Año Nuevo State Park.