Año Nuevo Elephant Seal Viewing Resumes After Avian Flu Cases Decline

The popular wildlife viewing site in San Mateo County will reopen to the public after a six-week closure due to an outbreak of avian flu that killed over a dozen seals.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 6:03pm

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A highly structured abstract painting in soft, earthy tones of green, blue, and ochre, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the delicate balance of natural forces and biological systems that govern the Año Nuevo elephant seal colony.An abstract visualization of the complex natural forces and biological systems that sustain the Año Nuevo elephant seal colony, now reopened to the public after a temporary closure due to an avian flu outbreak.San Mateo Today

Año Nuevo State Park in San Mateo County will once again allow public access to view the elephant seal colony starting this Saturday, after about six weeks of restricted access due to an outbreak of avian flu that killed over a dozen seals. The disease, HPAI H5N1, was first detected in late February by researchers, leading to the closure of the popular viewing spots. As of April 2, there were 32 confirmed cases in elephant seals in San Mateo County and 4 in Santa Cruz County, along with other affected marine mammals. Parks officials say the virus has now subsided, and visitors will find 'business as usual' when viewing the seals, though with slightly increased distance requirements.

Why it matters

The avian flu outbreak at Año Nuevo was the first detection of the HPAI H5N1 strain in elephant seals on the West Coast, raising concerns among researchers about the potential impact on the seal population. The closure of the popular viewing area also disrupted an important eco-tourism activity in the region. The reopening signals a return to normalcy for both the seal colony and the local community that relies on visitors to the park.

The details

The avian flu outbreak was first detected in late February by field researchers from the University of California, Santa Cruz and University of California, Davis. This strain of the virus, HPAI H5N1, had previously been found in seals on the East Coast, but this was the first time it was detected in elephant seals on the West Coast. The outbreak led to the closure of public access to the popular viewing spots at Año Nuevo State Park, as researchers worked to monitor the spread of the virus within the seal colony. As of April 2, there were 32 confirmed cases in elephant seals in San Mateo County, 4 in Santa Cruz County, 2 sea lions in San Mateo County, 1 in San Luis Obispo County, and 1 otter in San Mateo County. At least 18 animals, including 16 elephant seals, died from the virus.

  • In late February, the avian flu outbreak was first detected by researchers.
  • On April 2, there were 32 confirmed cases in elephant seals in San Mateo County and 4 in Santa Cruz County.
  • On April 9, Año Nuevo State Park will once again allow public access to view the elephant seals.

The players

Roxanne Beltran

A professor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UC Santa Cruz, who said the researchers increased monitoring of the seal colony due to concerns about the potential impact of the avian flu outbreak.

Ziad Bawarshi

A park ranger at Año Nuevo State Park, who said the decision to reopen access was made after no new cases were detected for about two weeks, and that visitors will find 'business as usual' when viewing the seals, with slightly increased distance requirements.

University of California, Santa Cruz

Researchers from this institution were involved in detecting the avian flu outbreak in the Año Nuevo seal colony.

University of California, Davis

Researchers from this institution were also involved in detecting the avian flu outbreak in the Año Nuevo seal colony.

California Department of Public Health

The department recommends that visitors stay at least 150 yards away from dead birds or wildlife to prevent the spread of the avian flu.

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What they’re saying

“Given the catastrophic impacts observed in related species, we were concerned about the possibility of the virus infecting northern elephant seals for the first time, so we ramped up monitoring to detect any early signs of abnormalities.”

— Roxanne Beltran, Professor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UC Santa Cruz

“There's a lot of pups learning to swim, interacting, mock fighting. It's actually one of my favorite times to come.”

— Ziad Bawarshi, Park Ranger, Año Nuevo State Park

What’s next

Parks officials will continue to monitor the seal colony at Año Nuevo State Park for any new cases of avian flu, and may again restrict public access if the virus is detected in the mammals. Visitors are advised to follow the recommended guidelines from the California Department of Public Health to maintain a safe distance from any dead wildlife.

The takeaway

The successful containment of the avian flu outbreak at Año Nuevo State Park and the subsequent reopening of the popular elephant seal viewing area demonstrates the importance of proactive wildlife monitoring and the resilience of the local ecosystem. This incident highlights the ongoing need to balance public access and conservation efforts, as well as the potential impacts of emerging zoonotic diseases on vulnerable marine mammal populations.