Zoo implements extra measures as CFIA confirms avian influenza detection nearby
The Wilder Institute's Calgary Zoo says it is taking immediate precautions to protect its bird collections after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) identified a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Foothills County on Oct. 20.
In a social media post Thursday, the zoo said it was "playing it safe" by proactively imposing protocols aimed at preventing the illness from entering its exhibits. The measures target visitor and staff movement into several aviaries and emphasize containment and hygiene to reduce the likelihood of viral transmission.
"The health and well-being of the animals in our care remains our top priority. Out of an abundance of caution, we're proactively implementing measures to protect our avian species."
What changes visitors will see
The zoo listed specific steps now in place at exhibit entryways. Those measures include footbaths for visitors, staff and contractors and changes to bird access to outdoor spaces, depending on the weather.
- Footbaths installed at the entrances to the African Rainforest Aviary, the Larry Ruskin Penguin Plunge and the Jihad Shibley Rocky Mountain Aviary.
- Outdoor access for birds in those enclosures permitted only when weather conditions allow.
- Heightened screening and quarantine awareness aligned with the CFIA designation of the nearby case as under quarantine.
A short table summarises the zoo's stated immediate protocols:
| Exhibit | Protocol |
|---|---|
| African Rainforest Aviary | Footbaths at entry; outdoor access weather permitting |
| Larry Ruskin Penguin Plunge | Footbaths at entry; outdoor access weather permitting |
| Jihad Shibley Rocky Mountain Aviary | Footbaths at entry; outdoor access weather permitting |
Regional context: memory of 2022 outbreak and recent years
The Calgary Zoo's actions come against the backdrop of Alberta's severe experience with H5N1 in 2022, when the province was described as the epicentre of a widespread outbreak. That event led to the culling of about 1.4 million commercial and backyard poultry birds in Alberta to try to halt spread. An early-season tally that year placed the number of flocks directly impacted at 31.
Authorities noted the virus that spring had caused mortality in migrating geese and ducks across North America and affected other wild birds and some mammals that fed on infected waterfowl. The following year, outbreaks in domestic birds fell sharply, but infections increased again in 2025 with 24 outbreaks reported in the province.
Implications for Calgary and stakeholders
The zoo's measures are intended to minimise the chance the CFIA-confirmed case — listed as being under quarantine — could spread via wild birds or human-assisted movement. For Calgary residents and visitors, the protocols may mean altered access to certain indoor and outdoor bird-viewing areas and additional hygiene steps when entering affected exhibits.
For the regional poultry sector and backyard flock owners, the detection reinforces the need for biosecurity vigilance. While the zoo statement focuses on animal welfare within its care, the broader economic and animal-health impacts of past outbreaks are a reminder that early detection and containment remain central to limiting spread and protecting both commercial producers and wildlife.
Zoo officials did not detail further operational changes or how long enhanced protocols would remain in place, saying the actions were precautionary in response to the CFIA finding within 200 kilometres of Calgary. The CFIA's online notice identifies the Oct. 20 detection as occurring in a non-commercial, non-poultry setting in Foothills County and lists it under quarantine.
As the situation evolves, the zoo and federal agencies will be watched closely by conservation groups, visitors and agricultural stakeholders seeking clarity on the risks and the timeline for returning to normal exhibit operations.
