Forbes A new study has determined that the COVID-19 virus is widespread amongst wildlife in the United States. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was recently detected in six common backyard species. Additionally, antibodies indicating prior exposure to the virus were found in five species. Depending upon the species, exposure rates ranged from 40-60%.
The greatest exposure to the COVID virus was found in animals near hiking trails and high-traffic public areas, suggesting that the virus passed from humans to wildlife. Genetic testing of wild animals confirmed both the presence of SARS-CoV-2 and the existence of unique viral mutations with lineages that closely matched variants circulating in humans at the time, further supporting the idea of human-to-animal transmission.