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| Science & Technology |
| More than 1,000 dead ducks found in Idaho |
| 2006-12-14 |
| Idaho Department of Fish and Game officials are trying to figure out why a 1,000 mallard ducks turned up dead along Land Creek Springs, about 15 miles southeast of Burley. A hunter found the first ducks last Friday and notified Fish and Game officials. When officers arrived they found 10 dead ducks near the spring and along the stream's edge. When they returned two days later, they found more than 500 dead ducks. That number has now grown to more than 1,000, and more are dying. Symptom do not appear to be avian influenza, but local, state and federal investigators have collected tissue and water samples for testing. Some were sent to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife laboratory in Wisconsin and water samples were sent to the University of Idaho and Washington and Washington State University laboratories to screen for pesticides. "Preliminary diagnosis is a bacterial infection is the likely cause of mortality," said David Parrish, Magic Valley regional supervisor for Fish and Game. "State veterinarians in Boise have found the lung tissue of the ducks to be full of white and yellowish bacterial abscesses. They also found hemorrhaging around the heart. At this point in time, however, we are not ruling out any potential cause." Signs have been posted in the area warning hunters not to eat the waterfowl until the cause of death has been determined. Fish and Game also is collecting and disposing of carcasses. "We will continue to monitor the area for any additional mortality," Parrish said. "We would appreciate the public reporting concentrations of dead waterfowl to any of the above listed agencies." |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |