Año Nuevo's Elephant Seal Viewing Areas Reopen After Bird Flu Outbreak

Scientists have been closely monitoring the iconic marine mammals during the closure.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 4:04am

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A highly structured abstract painting in muted earth tones, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the complex interplay of natural forces and scientific research surrounding the Año Nuevo elephant seal outbreak.As scientists work to understand the impact of avian influenza on the iconic Año Nuevo elephant seal colony, their research aims to protect these marine mammals and the delicate coastal ecosystem they inhabit.Santa Cruz Today

After a concerning bird flu outbreak that impacted the northern elephant seal population at Año Nuevo State Park, the park's iconic viewing areas are reopening to the public. Scientists have been working diligently to understand the virus's impact and develop new technologies to better detect and manage future outbreaks in wildlife.

Why it matters

The Año Nuevo elephant seal colony is one of the most closely studied marine mammal populations in the world, providing invaluable insights into the species' recovery and behavior. This outbreak highlights the need for continued vigilance and research to protect these iconic animals, as well as the importance of public-private partnerships in responding to emerging wildlife health threats.

The details

In late February, biologists at the Año Nuevo Coast Natural Preserve first noticed a concerning increase in sick and dead elephant seals, particularly pups. Lab tests confirmed the animals had contracted a lethal strain of bird flu known as H5N1, the first cases ever recorded in northern elephant seals and any marine mammal in California. To prevent the virus from spreading, the reserve was closed to the public for the remainder of the seals' breeding season.

  • In mid-February, biologists first spotted a dead elephant seal and another convulsing at the preserve.
  • The following day, several pups were behaving erratically, and others were found dead.
  • In late February, lab tests and necropsies confirmed the elephant seals had contracted the H5N1 bird flu virus.
  • The reserve was closed to the public in late February and will reopen on April 11, 2026.
  • Scientists have not detected a sick or dead animal on the mainland in two weeks.

The players

Patrick Robinson

The Año Nuevo reserve director at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Roxanne Beltran

A UC Santa Cruz biologist who leads the university's long-term elephant seal monitoring program.

Christine Johnson

The director of the UC Davis Institute for Pandemic Insights, leading efforts to understand the bird flu virus.

Susan Blake

The Año Nuevo State Park interpreter who coordinates the park's docent program.

Bonny Hawley

The executive director of Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, a nonprofit that helps fund and operate Año Nuevo State Park.

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What they’re saying

“When our research teams walk out there, most of the animals we see are healthy. We're monitoring out there and certainly (there's) a higher than normal level of mortality, but we're not seeing the devastation they saw in the southern elephant seals.”

— Patrick Robinson, Año Nuevo reserve director

“Knowing that avian influenza (was) within the seabirds along the West Coast … we knew that it might happen.”

— Patrick Robinson, Año Nuevo reserve director

“Because we had all those systems in place: the censuses, the tagging, and the knowledge of the normal patterns, that just allows us to put everything in context.”

— Patrick Robinson, Año Nuevo reserve director

“People can get it from animals, so we really want to mitigate that. Keeping an eye on the evolution of the virus is helpful for us to understand what the risk is.”

— Christine Johnson, Director, UC Davis Institute for Pandemic Insights

“We can do so much more if we don't have to get our hands on an animal. It's better for them in an outbreak, as well as us, right? So that's really the future.”

— Christine Johnson, Director, UC Davis Institute for Pandemic Insights

What’s next

Researchers are continuing to closely monitor the elephant seal population at Año Nuevo for any potential spikes in bird flu cases. They are also developing new technologies, such as thermal cameras on drones and air sampling devices, to improve the detection and management of future wildlife outbreaks.

The takeaway

The Año Nuevo elephant seal colony is a unique and invaluable resource for scientific research, and the collaborative efforts of researchers from UC Santa Cruz and UC Davis have been crucial in understanding and responding to the recent bird flu outbreak. This incident highlights the importance of long-term wildlife monitoring and the need for innovative tools to protect vulnerable species from emerging health threats.