OP’s Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead remains closed Friday after birds die of avian flu

The Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead in Overland Park remains closed Friday after multiple birds died this week from what’s believed to be avian flu.

The farmstead’s animal care team discovered that four geese and a wild duck died suddenly, the city announced Wednesday.

“We sent samples off for testing, because this is unusual,” the farm posted on Facebook Wednesday afternoon. “While we’re still waiting on final confirmation, it’s believed the birds died of avian flu.”

Farmstead staff worked Thursday to drain and disinfect the duck pond where the geese were housed, Overland Park spokeswoman Meg Ralph said.

They initially hoped to reopen by Friday, but now hope to reopen Saturday. That’s because full drainage of the pond was slower than expected, and staff must still allow time to complete their avian flu mitigation tasks to keep the other animals safe.

Once reopened, the bird and fowl enclosures will not immediately have public access again, though visitors may still be able to observe the birds from a distance.

“We are working to ensure that when the Farmstead reopens, we are minimizing the risk to the rest of the animals,” Overland Park Parks and Recreation Director Jermel Stevenson said in a news release. “At the same time, we’re grieving the loss of the animals we work hard to care for, that help our community learn about life on a Kansas farm.”

The replica 1900s farm, known for being a family-friendly attraction, opened in 1978 and was later named for an Overland Park police officer killed in the line of duty. It’s home to more than 250 animals.