Researchers found crocodilians, bats, raccoons and other creatures prowling a Florida town’s storm drains, “like something out of ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,’” one said.

The always colorful males light up with biofluorescence, sending off signals.

Beginning in 1969, she spent five months a year on Great Gull Island, leading teams of young volunteers devoted to preserving the seabirds.

A new type of bird flu has been detected in a human dairy worker in Nevada.

This strain is different from the version that’s been spreading in herds since last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

The case was apparently mild, as the Churchill County dairy worker was not hospitalized and has recovered, the Associated Press reported, citing health officials.

BIRD FLU UPTICK IN US HAS CDC ON ALERT FOR PANDEMIC 'RED FLAGS': REPORT

The person mainly experienced eye redness and irritation, similar to most bird flu cases associated with dairy cows, according to the AP.

While the new bird flu strain, D1.1, has been reported in more than a dozen humans exposed to infected poultry, this is the first cow-to-human case.

In a press release addressing the situation, the Central Nevada Health District (CNHD) confirmed there is no evidence of this virus being spread from the infected individual to other people.

BIRD FLU PATIENT HAD VIRUS MUTATIONS, SPARKING CONCERN ABOUT HUMAN SPREAD

The CDC noted on its website that bird flu’s risk to the general public remains low.

But those who are in constant and close contact with cows, poultry and other animals are at a higher risk — and are encouraged to wear protective equipment and take necessary precautions.

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Jacob Glanville, CEO of Centivax in San Francisco, commented in a statement to Fox News Digital that within a week of the D1.1 strain being detected in Nevada cows, there was already a human infection.

"This isn’t the first D1.1 human infection: It has already resulted in an American death, a severe illness, and some other infections in five other states," the expert said.

"The significance of this new infection is to reveal how quickly we go from cattle infections to human spillover."

Glanville confirmed that the cattle infections of the D1.1 strain prove that it contains mammalian adaptive mutations. 

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"While we have yet to see human-to-human transmission, with such rapid progression from cattle to human cases, it may only be a matter of time before an H5N1 pandemic," he said.

Fox News Digital reached out to the CDC for further comment.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.

A new version of the virus is widespread in wild birds but had not previously been detected in cows.

Their feathers, roosting behaviors and adaptability help birds survive the cold, “nature’s proving ground.”

Tiny mites seem capable of relying on the power of static cling to hop into hummingbird nostrils and move between flowers.

A pandemic is not inevitable, scientists say. But the outbreak has passed worrisome milestones in recent weeks, including cattle that may have been reinfected.

A museum curator with a ladder showed that birds that build cavity-style nests are able to protect their eggs with the skin shed by snakes.

The cases have spurred new pet food safety rules and poultry surveillance efforts.

Texas officials confirmed Wednesday that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI or bird flu) has been detected in Austin-Travis County after tests were performed on dead birds discovered in North Austin earlier this month.

The Austin Public Health Department and Texas Department of State Health Services said the tests on the deceased birds were conducted by an area veterinary lab, which detected the virus.

Austin Public Health issued the advisory Wednesday as a reminder to the public that people who work with infected wild birds, poultry or dairy cows are at a greater risk of contracting the virus if they are exposed to a sick or infected dead animal.

While bird flu typically affects wild birds, especially waterfowl, and domestic poultry, over 60 human cases of bird flu have been detected across the U.S.

BIRD FLU PATIENT HAD VIRUS MUTATIONS, SPARKING CONCERN ABOUT HUMAN SPREAD

A patient in Louisiana who had been hospitalized with the first human case of bird flu died Monday, according to the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH).

The unidentified patient was over 65 and was reported to have underlying medical conditions, the agency said.

The same patient was found to have a mutated version of the virus, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced last week, suggesting bird flu could potentially spread from human to human.

LOUISIANA REPORTS FIRST BIRD FLU-RELATED HUMAN DEATH IN US

Both the CDC and the LDH maintain that the risk to the public remains low.

Officials did caution, however, that those who come in contact with birds, poultry or cows are at a higher risk of contracting the virus.

As of Friday, there were 66 confirmed human cases of bird flu, including the Louisiana case, according to the CDC. Of those, 37 were in California, 11 in Washington state and 10 in Colorado. 

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Around 40 of the cases were related to exposure to cattle herds.

Avian influenza is a highly contagious virus that can spread through contact with infected animals, by equipment and on the clothing and shoes of caretakers, according to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Austin health officials encourage anyone who comes across a sick or dead bird to contact the Texas Animal Health Commission at 800-550-8242. The officials also encourage anyone with a sick or dead pet bird to contact a veterinarian.

Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano contributed to this report.

The deceased was over 65 and had other medical conditions, state officials said.

The bird flu outbreak continues to grow in the U.S., with state officials confirming infected flocks in two additional Michigan counties on Monday.

Following an investigation by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory detected the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) at two commercial poultry facilities in Ottawa County and at a backyard flock in Jackson County.

The affected premises are currently under quarantine, and the birds will be "depopulated" to prevent disease spread, according to a statement from MDARD. 

The efforts also help to ensure the safety and integrity of the commercial food supply, according to officials.

BIRD FLU SURGES IN SEVERAL US STATES WITH REPORTS OF NEW OUTBREAKS: 'GETTING WORSE'

"Slowing the spread of HPAI to protect human health is a top priority at MDARD," said MDARD Director Tim Boring. "Implementing on-farm biosecurity and expanding the state's HPAI surveillance efforts are key strategies to prevent opportunities for the virus to infect domestic animal species and potentially spread and become a more concerning human threat."

HPAI, also known as bird flu, is a highly contagious virus that can be spread in various ways from flock to flock — including by wild birds — through contact with infected animals, by equipment, and on the clothing and shoes of caretakers, according to MDARD. 

BIRD FLU LEADS TO SEVERE HUMAN ILLNESS AND STATE OF EMERGENCY

"Even though the weather is cold, HPAI continues to circulate in wild bird populations, creating ideal conditions for the virus to thrive and spread," said state veterinarian Nora Wineland. "It's critical to prevent disease introduction by taking biosecurity measures, such as keeping domestic animals away from wild birds and cleaning and disinfecting equipment between uses."

MDARD said it is continuing to work diligently with local, state, and federal partners to quickly respond to reports of sick domestic animals to best mitigate the spread of HPAI and provide outreach.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the public health risk associated with avian influenza remains low. No birds or bird products infected with HPAI will enter the commercial food chain. 

As a reminder, people should properly handle and cook all poultry and eggs.

The time between when the pilot reported a bird strike and when it crashed could be key to unraveling one of the world’s worst aviation disasters in years.

It is not uncommon for planes to strike wildlife, but most episodes don’t result in deaths or serious injuries.

Some lawmakers hope to end a program that is meant to introduce children to field sports but that critics say makes the birds easy targets, if they don’t die another way.

Just days after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a new order that all raw (unpasteurized) milk must be tested for bird flu, reports have emerged of animals dying of the virus.

In Los Angeles County, the public health department is investigating the deaths of two cats that reportedly consumed recalled raw milk.

After drinking the milk, the felines displayed symptoms that included lack of appetite, fever and neurologic issues, according to a press release from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

BIRD FLU SURGES IN SEVERAL US STATES WITH REPORTS OF NEW OUTBREAKS: 'GETTING WORSE'

"The infected cats died after severe worsening of their illness, and subsequently tested positive for influenza A, a rare result in cats," the release stated.

Health officials are considering these "suspected H5 bird flu cases" and confirmatory testing is underway.

Cats can contract bird flu by consuming infected birds or other animals or drinking raw milk from infected cows, according to health officials.

Although it is possible for cats to transmit influenza strains to humans, there have been no reports of it happening with the current H5 bird flu outbreak.

FLU VACCINATION RATES ‘CONCERNINGLY’ LOW AMONG US KIDS, HEALTH OFFICIALS WARN

"The risk of H5 bird flu remains low in Los Angeles County, but this suspected case of the virus in a pet cat that consumed raw milk is a reminder that consuming raw dairy products can lead to severe illness in cats," said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, in the release. 

"To avoid the spread of disease, including H5 bird flu, we strongly encourage residents and their pets to avoid raw dairy and undercooked meat products, limit contact with sick or dead animals, report sick or dead birds, and keep pets or poultry away from wild animals and birds."

Fox News Digital reached out to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health for additional comment.

Meanwhile, at the Wildlife World Zoo in Maricopa County, Arizona, a few resident animals have reportedly died after becoming infected with bird flu.

Local reports stated that a cheetah, a mountain lion, a swamphen, an Indian goose and a kookaburra died as a result of bird flu, according to a zoo official.

A white tiger also was confirmed to be infected but "appeared to be responding to treatment," per the report.

DEADLY VIRUS SAMPLES WENT MISSING FROM LAB IN ‘MAJOR BIOSECURITY BREACH,’ SAY AUTHORITIES

"Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) is working closely with state and federal partners to respond to detection of avian influenza in a small number of animals that are part of a zoo collection in Litchfield Park," health officials stated in a press release this week.

"Overall risk to the public and zoo visitors remains low."

A zoo representative provided an update to Fox News Digital on Friday.

"Fortunately, we are nine days out without anymore positive cases," the spokesperson said. "We also have not had any positive cases with any of our employees or volunteers as a result of avian influenza."

"We are all devastated by the loss of five cherished animals, but with over 6,000 animals, we are grateful that the impact was limited thanks to our swift response and robust protocols."

Continued outbreaks have also been reported among dairy cattle, poultry, waterfowl and wild birds in multiple U.S. states.

Sam Scarpino, PhD, director of AI and life sciences at Northeastern University in Boston, said the animal deaths are "continued signs" that the situation with H5N1 in the U.S. is "getting worse, not better."

"The reported infections in humans and now domestic cats due to their consumption of raw milk also highlights how dangerous it is for people to consume raw milk," he told Fox News Digital. 

"It’s important that we take steps to better control the transmission of H5N1 in dairy cows and better understand how it’s spreading between states in the U.S."

Dr. Jacob Glanville, CEO of Centivax, a San Francisco biotechnology company, warned that H5N1 has been found in "relatively high concentrations" in raw milk.

"Without pasteurizing it, the virus remains viable in the milk and could potentially infect someone who drinks it," he told Fox News Digital. 

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"It’s not that common of an occurrence, as we’ve not seen a rash of H5N1 infections from raw milk drinkers, but the virus is mutating and is therefore a potential risk."

Although most cows have only had mild infection, Glanville noted that the strain has been "highly virulent" in birds, ferrets and primates.

"Studies indicate that even a single mutation could significantly enhance its infectivity in humans," he said.

"Given the virus’ ability to persist in milk and infect mucosal membranes, along with the potential for a pandemic, avoiding raw milk is strongly recommended," Glanville added.

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The expert also emphasized that it’s critical to only drink pasteurized milk to prevent the spread of harmful pathogens commonly found in raw milk.