Wildlife Experts Search for Cause in COVID-19 Infecting Northland Minnesota Animals

Cases of COVID-19 have been found in deer, bears, moose and wolves in Northern part of Minnesota

GRAND PORTAGE, Minn. (AP)–Wildlife experts are searching for the virus that causes COVID-19 in deer, bears, moose and wolves in Minnesota’s north woods.

They are among researchers around the world trying to figure out how and where wildlife is spreading the coronavirus at a time when international health agencies are calling for greater tracking of infected animals.

Scientists are deeply concerned that the virus could evolve within animal populations – potentially spawning dangerous viral mutants that could jump back to people, spread among us and reignite what seems like a waning pandemic.

They point out the virus has already leaped from humans to animals and back again.