Goose treated after drinking toxic mining pit water dies

BUTTE – A snow goose that was captured and treated last week after drinking the acidic waters of the Berkeley Pit has died and another is still recovering.

The Montana Standard reported that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had hoped to release the bird Monday, but it died at a Butte animal shelter on Friday. Another snow goose was captured and treated over the weekend. It is being held to recover.

The news comes after 3,000 or more migrating snow geese died after drinking water in the Berkeley Pit on Nov. 28.

Wildlife Service spokesman Ryan Moehring says the agency is working with mine officials to strengthen the hazing program at the pit in time for spring migration.