BARABOO, Wis. (WKOW) -- The International Crane Foundation has announced the death of an endangered whooping crane, Ducky.

Ducky died earlier in September due to bird flu.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Ducky,” said Kim Boardman, Curator of Birds at the International Crane Foundation. “Each whooping crane is invaluable—not only to our organization, but to the survival of the entire species.”

Avian influenza can persist in the environment for extended periods. Wild birds, especially waterfowl, are carriers of the virus. They often carry the virus asymptomatically, shedding it through feces, which can contaminate water and spread the infection.

Ducky was a part of the foundation's breeding reintroduction program in Baraboo.

Despite emergency care from the foundation's specialize

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