Despite a decline in news coverage, the H5N1 avian influenza virus continues to circulate extensively among wild birds, poultry, marine mammals, and recently dairy cattle across the U.S. Outbreaks have resulted in millions of poultry deaths and have severely impacted wildlife populations, including tens of thousands of Northern Gannets and other bird species. Experts caution against complacency as the virus is not disappearing but becoming endemic, with unpredictable adaptations potentially increasing human transmission risks. Surveillance efforts emphasize monitoring viral mutations and interspecies transmission events, particularly the unprecedented infection in cattle udders, which raises concerns about increased human exposure and pandemic potential.