80 Dead Geese Found Near Saylorville Dam

[hawkeye]

More possible lead poisoning.

80 Dead Geese Found Near Saylorville Dam

POSTED: 9:16 am CST January 9, 2008
UPDATED: 9:42 am CST January 9, 2008

DES MOINES, Iowa -- State wildlife officials hope to find out soon what's killing the geese in the Des Moines River south of Saylorville Lake near Des Moines.

So far, workers have collected 80 dead Canada geese and found another 20 that are showing signs of serious illness Guy Zenner of Iowa Department of Natural Resources said the cause could be lead poisoning, a bacterial disorder called fowl cholera, or illness caused by fungi on corn the geese ate.

The National Wildlife Health Laboratory in Madison, Wisc, is running tests, and results are expected later this week.

 

[Niko]

Re: 80 Dead Geese Found Near Saylorville Dam

DNR investigating dozens of dead geese near Saylorville Lake


Wednesday, January 9, 2008, 11:35 AM
By Matt Kelley
Dozens of dead Canada geese have been found in the Des Moines River in central Iowa and many more geese in the area are ill. Kevin Baskins, spokesman for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says tests are being done on some of the dead birds to determine what killed them.

Baskins says about 80 dead geese have been recovered and at least 20 more didn't look well. Biologists are going, daily, to an area along the river south of Saylorville Lake in Polk County, to pick up more dead geese. He says it's uncommon to have so many dead geese, but it happens on occasion.

Baskins says if corn is left outside a grain elevator or bin for a long time, geese will eat it and pick up a mold that can be fatal. He says it could also be a disorder called fowl cholera or even lead poisoning. Steel shot is now required for waterfowl hunting as it's non-toxic.

In the past, he says lead shot that was in the water from hunting could be gobbled up by feeding geese. He says they also eat fishing tackle. Baskins says the results of the tests on the dead geese should be in on Friday from the National Wildlife Health Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin.

http://www.radioiowa.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=5F9FAD66-F404-1EE7-48186C83A55C85DC

 

[hawkeye]

Re: 80 Dead Geese Found Near Saylorville Dam

I'm sure it's just lead