Two-thirds of egg-laying hens in California have been lost in the recent outbreak, the California Department of Food and Agriculture said.

CALIFORNIA —If you have tried to bake a cake recently, you might have had a hard time finding eggs. The empty shelves are a sign of the devastating impact of avian influenza, H5N1 or HPAI, on commercial poultry flocks in California.

The virus commonly known as bird flu can cause serious illness and death in birds and mammals. Human infections with bird flu viruses are rare, but they can happen when the virus gets into a person's eyes, nose, mouth or when inhaled, according to the California Department of Public Health.

As of Dec. 23, the department reported 37 confirmed human cases of bird flu in the state, 36 of which occurred due to exposure to infected cattle. No person-to-person bird flu has been detected in California. Pasteurized milk and dairy products are safe to consume because pasteurization inactivates the bird flu virus.

In November, a raw milk company based out of Fresno had to recall its products due to the presence of the bird flu virus. Officials in San Francisco also suspect the virus made a child there ill this month, but the child recovered.

Since the first outbreaks in 2022, most cases appeared to be happening in the Central Valley. In November, bird flu was detected in a commercial duck flock in Marin County, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, or CDFA. At the end of December, the USDA reported the virus detected in 627,800 commercial egg-laying hens in San Joaquin County.

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CDFA spokesperson Steve Lyle said the egg shortages are related to bird flu, but also a seasonal increase in demand.

"Over the holidays, demand went up at grocery stores as more home meals were cooked, at a time of year when production is flat or even low," he said.

During the shorter winter days, hens will produce fewer eggs. Production is activated by the chicken's pituitary gland, which is affected by the amount of light the chicken experiences, according to information posted by Colorado State University's extension service.

Lyle said most eggs consumed in California are imported from other states, but about 40 percent are produced here.

"Two-thirds of egg-laying hens in California have been lost in the recent outbreak," he said. That means about 10 million out of 14 million hens have been lost since August. Lyle anticipates supplies will remain tight for at least the next several weeks.

"At this time, we have no estimation as to when we might see an improvement in supply," said Jennifer Shelton, spokesperson for the Save Mart Companies, which own Lucky and Food Maxx groceries. She said the stores will continue to ask customers to limit the number of eggs to two cartons per purchase.

Maurice Pitesky with the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine said this outbreak of bird flu is unprecedented.

"It's the worst one in California, in the country, in the world and in history," he said. "You look at the last 7,000 or 10,000 years of human history, since the beginning of the agricultural revolution, I can't think of any way you can measure it where this would not be number one. Geographically, it's hit six or seven continents."

The virus has been seen in both wild and domestic birds, as well as domestic mammals, he said. It is an RNA virus, which he says can transform.

"It's segmented. It's got this amazing capacity to mutate and shift and reabsorb."

"We're finding it in the environment, in human wastewater, dairy lagoons, etc.," he continued. "It's in dairy, it's in poultry. It's shown the ability to infect pigs. The significance of that from a food security perspective — three of the main animal proteins that humans consume on the planet — is pretty significant. There have been some people that have been sickened that we can't find a connection to poultry or dairy, so that's concerning."

Pitesky confirmed that most people infected are working with dairy or poultry in farming occupations. But the virus is migrating with wild birds.

"There's different types of it floating around and some of those can eventually become either more infectious or more virulent, potentially," he said.

The Pacific Flyway is in the Central Valley of California, where there are close to a thousand dairies and 600 commercial poultry facilities, said Pitesky. That happens to also be the wintering stopover for about 3 million waterfowl, ducks and geese. When those birds migrate back to the Arctic every year, they can interface with waterfowl from other flyways, and that's how this virus can move literally around the world.

So far, the waterfowl don't seem to be highly affected, although there have been devastating outbreaks for snow geese and albatross, he said.

For those thinking of avoiding the grocery store and raising hens in their backyards, Pitesky advises creating physical barriers to protect their birds. People should do the best they can to use fencing to physically separate their domestic chickens from any wild animals, from the sides and from above. Don't leave poultry feed out, which attracts wild animals.

Nate Rose, spokesperson for the California Grocers Association, said their large and small member stores are all experiencing shortages. He attributes them partly to the state's high standards. He referenced Proposition 12, the Farm Animal Confinement Initiative, which went into effect in 2022. The law requires all poultry to have free movement in a cage-free design.

This year, Utah and Colorado added similar laws, bringing the total to ten states.

"So that's increased demand for eggs that meet the welfare standards of cage free and so there's more grocers looking to buy those eggs when supply is down because of avian flu," said Rose.

"When we create a smaller pool of goods to buy from, it is more fragile to these kinds of black swan events," he said. "Cost is up around 30% and that's how Californians have voted. That's what consumers have said they want. Our view in the grocery industry is to satisfy the customer."

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What to know about this year's cookie lineup, the price per box and where and when to find them.

Maggie Fusek, Patch Staff

PETALUMA, CA — The Girl Scouts of Northern California kicked off its 2025 cookie season Monday in Petaluma and throughout the Bay Area.

The council representing over 2,000 Girl Scout troops in 19 counties from Santa Clara north to the Oregon Border invites consumers to support their local Girl Scout entrepreneurs by ordering cookies online at ilovecookies.org. Northern California residents can have cookies shipped to their homes or anywhere else.

All flavors are $7—an increase of $1 since last year—with an additional fee when shipping.

Those who wish to purchase cookies in person can do so starting Thursday, Feb. 6. Look for Girl Scout cookie sales booths at select businesses and neighborhoods throughout the communities of Northern California. Not sure where to find cookies in your neighborhood? See the nearest cookies sales booth by entering your ZIP code here. Keep in mind that the 2025 Northern California cookie season runs through Sunday, March 16.

The 2025 cookie lineup is jampacked with the full spread of highly sought-after cookie flavors in including Thin Mints®, Caramel deLites®, Peanut Butter Patties® and more.

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"At the close of the 2025 Cookie Season, the beloved cookie flavor, Toast-yay!®, will be retired to make way for future innovations," the Girl Scouts announced Monday.

Over 16,000 Northern California Girl Scouts are participating in the cookie entrepreneurship program this year. Together, their goal is to sell 4.3 million packages of cookies.

"We’re thrilled to partner with ABC Bakers this year, bringing beloved fan favorites like Thin Mints® and Trefoils®, along with exciting new additions to our cookie lineup," said Mary-Jane Strom, a lifelong Girl Scout who is serving as interim CEO of Girl Scouts of Northern California.

"This season, cookie prices in our Council increased by $1, bringing them to $7 per box—a necessary adjustment to address rising costs," Strom said. "Despite this change, every purchase continues to directly support our local Girl Scouts as they achieve their goals, develop essential skills, and make a difference in their communities. I'm so proud of our Girl Scouts and can’t wait to see all they accomplish this season!"

It is the largest entrepreneurial program in the world, allowing Girl Scouts to acquire skills such as goal setting, money management, decision-making, people skills and business ethics.

This season, Strom said, Girl Scouts of Northern California calls on community members to support their favorite cookies—and the youth behind each box. All proceeds from cookie sales stay with Girl Scouts of Northern California’s troops to fuel inspiring experiences like camp, other trips and service projects throughout the year.

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SONOMA COUNTY, CA — The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved a stopgap measure this week that will allow two voter-approved measures to increase sales taxes countywide and in the city of Sebastopol on April 1, 2025.

The temporary solution will allow the County to fully implement Measure I, a countywide quarter-cent sales tax approved by 62.81 percent of Sonoma County voters last month to fund child care, education and health care for children in low- and middle-income families. The action will also enable the City of Sebastopol to phase in implementation of Measure U, a half-cent city sales tax approved by 72.01 percent of Sebastopol voters last month to address the city’s budget challenges.

The California Department of Fee and Tax Administration, the state agency that administers sales taxes, opined that neither tax could be implemented because, when combined, they would push the sales tax in Sebastopol above 10.25 percent —the maximum currently allowed in Sonoma County by state law.

While the CDTFA said it could not implement either tax without a legal opinion from the California Attorney General’s Office or a solution from the California Legislature, it did suggest to the county and city that the taxes could be implemented if an agreement was reached between the two jurisdictions.

"Voters in Sonoma County and the City of Sebastopol want to tax themselves to pay for causes they believe are worthy, and we should respect those decisions," said Supervisor David Rabbitt, chair of the Board of Supervisors. "This temporary fix will allow the County and the City of Sebastopol to execute the will of voters while we work on a legislative solution to allow full implementation of Measure I and Measure U."

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An agreement between the County and the City of Sebastopol will temporarily keep the city’s sales tax from exceeding the maximum rate of 10.25 percent, allowing the Measure I sales tax to take effect countywide. Under the agreement, the City of Sebastopol will seek to phase in Measure U, temporarily collecting only a quarter-cent of the half-cent sales tax approved by city voters. In exchange, the County of Sonoma will make Sebastopol whole by paying the city an amount equal to the portion of the Measure U tax temporarily waived by the city.

Staff for the County, the City of Sebastopol and First 5 Sonoma County, the local agency administering Measure I tax proceeds, are seeking a permanent solution from the Legislature that would allow Sebastopol to fully implement both Measure I and Measure U.

The Sebastopol City Council meets Tuesday and will review the temporary solution. If approved by the city, the sales tax in Sonoma County and Sebastopol will increase April 1.

It could take up to six months for the California attorney general's office to issue a legal opinion on the matter as requested by the California Department of Fee and Tax Administration. The county payments, estimated at approximately $62,500 a month, will continue until the attorney general shares their findings or a legislative fix is received.

"Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop."

Maggie Fusek, Patch Staff

PETALUMA, CA — Petaluma residents should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible flood warnings Friday and Saturday, the National Weather Service said.

A flood watch is expected to go into effect at 2 p.m. Friday afternoon and continue through 4 p.m. Saturday during significant rainfall forecast for the Marin Coastal Range, Sonoma Coastal Range, North Bay interior mountains, Coastal North Bay including Point Reyes National Seashore and North Bay interior valleys.

Expected rainfall totals are 2-3 inches in the valleys and up to 5 inches in the higher elevations. Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks, and flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas, the weather service said. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.

The cities and towns under flood watch are Tamalpais-Homestead, Novato, South Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Napa, Santa Rosa, San Rafael, Sausalito, Woodacre, Lagunitas-Forest Knolls, Petaluma and Angwin.

A National Weather Service coastal flood advisory was also issued. It remains in effect from 6 a.m. Thursday to 1 p.m. Monday.

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Minor coastal flooding is expected along San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay. Parking lots, parks and roads are forecast to flood. Isolated road closures are expected.

Tidal levels are increasing as a result of higher astronomical tides. Low-lying areas within the San Francisco Bay Area may see minor flooding during the following high tides:

Those who need to travel should allow extra time as roads may be closed. Drivers should not go around barricades or through water of unknown depth, the weather service said.

Thursday

Rain likely, mainly between 10am and 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. West wind 8 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Thursday NightRain likely, mainly after 4am. Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. West wind around 6 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

FridayRain likely, mainly after 4pm. Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 57. Southeast wind 7 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Friday NightRain. Low around 47. South southeast wind 14 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

SaturdayRain, mainly before 4pm. The rain could be heavy at times. High near 59. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Saturday NightA 50 percent chance of rain before 10pm. Patchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 37.

SundayPatchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 58.

Sunday NightRain likely after 4am. Patchy fog between 9pm and 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.

MondayRain. Cloudy, with a high near 55.

Monday NightRain likely. Patchy fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.

TuesdayA slight chance of rain. Patchy fog. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 61.

Tuesday NightPatchy fog. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 38.

WednesdayPatchy fog. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 61.

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The entire rail line serving Marin and Sonoma counties will be out of service.

Maggie Fusek, Patch Staff

NORTH BAY, CA — At long last, the new Petaluma North station at Corona Road and North McDowell Boulevard is expected to open by the end of this month.

As SMART prepares for the opening, it must suspend service to conduct systemwide tests this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 14-15. In addition to the entire SMART rail line serving Marin and Sonoma counties, all SMART Connect shuttles will also be out of service.

"We regret any inconvenience this closure may cause," SMART officials said. "After careful consideration, we determined that implementing bus bridges would not reliably serve our riders due to lengthy and unpredictable travel times. Temporarily suspending service, with advance notice to riders, is the most efficient and least disruptive approach, allowing us to complete the necessary testing swiftly while minimizing overall service impact."

SMART suggested using smartphone applications such as the Transit app, Google Maps, or Apple Maps to plan a trip using alternate transit routes. Golden Gate Transit offers bus service connecting Sonoma and Marin counties to San Francisco.

Passengers who need assistance with trip planning can also contact SMART customer service agents between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays at 707-794-3330 or via email at customerservice@sonomamarintrain.org.

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During the testing this weekend, community members in the Petaluma and Penngrove areas may hear SMART intermittently using its horns and bells. Despite Quiet Zone ordinances restricting train horns, the Federal Railroad Administration requires using horns and bells when testing rail systems.

SMART said it will work to minimize noise disruptions while maintaining safety as a top priority for everyone in the area.

During the temporary system closure, SMART will improve the rail crossing at Todd Road in Santa Rosa. To do so and resurface the roadway, a section of Todd Road will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, until 10 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15.

A detour from Standish Avenue to West Robles Avenue to Moorland Avenue will be in place.

Detour Map

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