Re: Duck Die-Off in Idaho
<TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>DJ USDA: Moldy Grain, Not Bird Flu, Caused Idaho Duck Deaths
</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>5:59 PM, December 15, 2006</TD></TR><TR><TD>
WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--Moldy grain, not bird flu, caused a large mallardduck die-off in Idaho, a U.S. Department of Agriculture spokeswoman saidFriday. Tests conducted at the National Wildlife Health Center, which is operated bythe U.S. Geological Survey, found no avian influenza, said USDA spokeswomanAngela Harless. Instead, it's been determined that the birds were sickened by eating mold oncorn, she said. Mold produces a toxin that can sicken wildlife when ingested. As many as 2,500 mallard ducks died along a southeastern Idaho creek bed,state officials have said. The ducks mysteriously began dying last week aroundLand Springs Creek, about 180 miles southeast of Boise. Mark Drew, a wildlife veterinarian with the state Department of Agriculturetold The Associated Press earlier this week the ducks likely were exposed to asingle contamination source and gathered at the creek, their mutual roostingpoint, to die. State officials had said since the investigation into the die-off began thatbird flu was unlikely to be the cause. -By Bill Tomson; Dow Jones Newswires; 202-646-0088; bill.tomson@dowjones.com (END) Dow Jones Newswires 12-15-06 1759ET</PRE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>http://www.agriculture.com/ag/futuresource/FutureSourceStoryIndex.jhtml?storyId=75901043
<TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>DJ USDA: Moldy Grain, Not Bird Flu, Caused Idaho Duck Deaths
</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>5:59 PM, December 15, 2006</TD></TR><TR><TD>
WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--Moldy grain, not bird flu, caused a large mallardduck die-off in Idaho, a U.S. Department of Agriculture spokeswoman saidFriday. Tests conducted at the National Wildlife Health Center, which is operated bythe U.S. Geological Survey, found no avian influenza, said USDA spokeswomanAngela Harless. Instead, it's been determined that the birds were sickened by eating mold oncorn, she said. Mold produces a toxin that can sicken wildlife when ingested. As many as 2,500 mallard ducks died along a southeastern Idaho creek bed,state officials have said. The ducks mysteriously began dying last week aroundLand Springs Creek, about 180 miles southeast of Boise. Mark Drew, a wildlife veterinarian with the state Department of Agriculturetold The Associated Press earlier this week the ducks likely were exposed to asingle contamination source and gathered at the creek, their mutual roostingpoint, to die. State officials had said since the investigation into the die-off began thatbird flu was unlikely to be the cause. -By Bill Tomson; Dow Jones Newswires; 202-646-0088; bill.tomson@dowjones.com (END) Dow Jones Newswires 12-15-06 1759ET</PRE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>http://www.agriculture.com/ag/futuresource/FutureSourceStoryIndex.jhtml?storyId=75901043
