SALT LAKE CITY — Experts estimate “tens of hundreds” of birds in Utah have died after contracting a illness unfold by poisonous micro organism present in stagnant water.
While check outcomes are nonetheless being processed, biologists suspect the birds died of avian botulism, a illness contracted by ingesting micro organism that’s present in stagnant and heat swimming pools of water.
The illness paralyzes birds and is usually deadly, officers defined.
In mid-September, biologists with the Division of Wildlife Resources discovered a plethora of useless and sick birds within the Willard Spur and Harold S. Crane Waterfowl Management Areas. Both areas are situated off Willard Bay in Weber County.
In addition, officers say numerous birds from the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge had been impacted, which is situated in Box Elder County.
FOX 13 News
Video from officers reveals lots of of useless birds floating within the water on the Willard Spur Waterfowl Management Area.
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
While the deadly illness occurs almost yearly in Utah between July and September, a “significantly massive quantity” of birds had been contaminated this yr.
The precise variety of contaminated birds cannot be confirmed however officers suppose “tens of hundreds” have been impacted.
Waterfowl, gulls and shorebirds are mostly impacted by the illness. Symptoms embody the shortcoming of a chicken to carry its head up and the shortcoming to fly, regardless of making an attempt.
As searching season is underway, officers warned hunters to be cautious when harvesting birds, though the danger of a human case of avian botulism may be very low.
Hunters ought to solely harvest birds which can be actively flying and will prepare dinner meat totally earlier than consuming.
If a hunter comes throughout a sick chicken, they need to not contact, catch or feed them and will maintain a secure distance away.
