| 'Bird flu outbreak' as dead swans found near Backwell lake (North Somerset) Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:30, 10th November 2025 |     |
This is local to me - I walk past that lake on my way to our station.
From the BBC:
Experts have warned of a bird flu outbreak after dead swans were found near a popular lake.
The five birds at Backwell Lake, near Bristol, on Sunday morning displayed signs of Avian Influenza, including blue eyes, animal charity Curious Critters said.
It comes as the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) issued a mandatory housing order to cover England following escalating numbers of the virus.
A Curious Critter spokesperson posted on Facebook saying: "We are very confident we are looking at an Avian Influenza outbreak and would ask that the community please follow the guidelines."
They added: "Retrieving the deceased swans will have played a huge role in safeguarding the remaining wildlife."
So far this season - which began in October - there have been 26 cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza, external (HPAI) H5N1 on farms across the UK, with 22 in England.
The public has been urged to keep dogs on leads and not feed wild waterfowl including ducks and geese.
Please note that guidance.
