Signs have gone up along the Emerald Necklace: Stay away from the birds

It's normally good advice, anyway, but the Boston Public Health Commission reports it's posted signs all over Emerald Necklace parks because of the potential threat of bird flu - to visitors and especially their pets.

We're tracking Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) which has existed among wild bird populations in Massachusetts since 2022. Risk of human infection is currently low.

Reduce your risk of infection by staying away from sick or dead birds and by keeping your pets away from them. Signs are posted around the Emerald Necklace reminding people to not feed, touch, or remove birds from Boston parks.

Report sick, injured, or dead birds to mass.gov/reportbirds or call 311.

Brockton officials recently shut a park after discovering dead swans and geese at a pond in the park.