PORTLAND, Ore. - Several thousand ducks and geese may have already died on two North Portland lakes operated by Metro after the waters became infected with deadly bacteria.
It's happening on Smith and Bybee lakes near Portland International Raceway just off Marine Drive.
Oregon Fish and Wildlife and Metro crews were out on kayaks and canoes Friday looking for dead birds, attempting to stop the outbreak before more birds die.
"We want to make sure we are doing everything we can for the birds that are healthy out here," said Metro Natural Areas Land Manager Don Moeller.
A disease known as avian botulism has already killed at least 2,000 birds, mostly young green teals.
The state's wildlife veterinarian said several thousand may have already died.
Collecting the birds is an essential part of staving off more massive losses of waterfowl, according to Metro.
"Because the maggots that end up on the dead carcasses and can be consumed by other birds and that's how the botulism spreads from one bird to another. And as you can imagine, then it can spread very quickly," said Moeller.
Continued and video: http://www.katu.com/news/local/Thousands-of-birds-feared-dead-after-outbreak-in-N-Portland-lakes-170798166.html
No comments:
Post a Comment