Point Defiance Zoo shuts puffin habitat after three deaths, a
Tue, July 14, 2026 at 3:51 PM
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An image of a puffin on July 9, 2024. (Katie G. Cotterill/Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium)
TACOMA, Wash. —Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium has temporarily closed its outdoor puffin habitat while investigating the recent deaths of three tufted puffins that may have been infected with a Chlamydia psittaci
Preliminary findings indicate the birds may have had the disease, also known as aesday. PCR testing is underway to confirm the cause of death
An image of a puffin on May 6, 2026. (Katie G. Cotterill/Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium)
No active human cases of psittacosis associated with the zoo have been identified, Zoo officials said
As a precaution, the pathway to the outdoor puffin ame to tufted puffins, horned puffins, and murres
Guests can still view puffins and sea otters through the underwater viewing area
The remaining puffins are being treated with antibiotics
Animal care staff are using enhanced personal protective equipment, including respiratory protection, gloves, disposable boot coverings, and disinfecting foot baths while caring for the birds
The zoo also plans to thoroughly clean and decontaminate the a
The risk to visitors is believed to be low, but the zoo advised anyone who visited the outdoor puffin habitat in recent weeks to monitor for symptoms, the zoo said
According to the Washington State Department of Health, people can become infected by breathing dust contaminated with dried bird droppings or respiratory secretions from infected birds
At the same time, person-to-person transmission is considered very rare
Symptoms typically develop five to 14 days after exposure and may include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, dry cough, shortness of breath, or pneumonia
The habitat will remain closed until zoo veterinarians and public health partners determine it is safe to reopen
