Dennis Romero is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.
Flaco, the owl who endeared himself to New Yorkers with flights above Manhattan, had underlying conditions consistent with urban wildlife when he died last month, zoo officials said. Flaco was roughly 13 years old when he was found dead Feb. 23 in the courtyard of an apartment building in New York City's Upper West Side, Central Park Zoo, his former home, said.
'These factors would have been debilitating and ultimately fatal, even without a traumatic injury, and may have predisposed him to flying into or falling from the building,' the zoo said. Herpesvirus can be fatal in birds of prey like Flaco, where it caused tissue damage and organ inflammation, it said. Flaco flew for more than a year over Central Park and perimeter neighborhoods after he left his zoo habitat when a vandal breached his enclosure on Feb. 2, 2023.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Death of beloved NYC owl, Flaco, in apparent building collision devastates legions of fansA necropsy is expected to determine the cause of death. Flaco was freed from his cage at the zoo a little over a year ago when a vandal cut through a steel mesh…
Read more »
Tests show NYC owl Flaco exposed to pigeon virus, rat poisonIn the days before his death, Flaco had ceased his nightly hooting from the city’s rooftops, prompting some to fear he was ill, according to David Barrett, a bird enthusiast who runs a social…
Read more »
Suspect captured after two-day manhunt in fatal shooting of New Mexico State Police officerDennis Romero is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.
Read more »
Video shows teen pull gun on Florida beach, run into Atlantic in standoff with deputiesDennis Romero is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.
Read more »
Women pinned cougar during ‘hand-to-hand combat’ to save friend trapped in its jawsDennis Romero is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.
Read more »
Deadly Shooting at St. Patrick's Day Celebration in Jacksonville BeachDennis Romero is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.
Read more »