Disease Kills Ducks

Sun., Sept. 21, 1997

Associated Press

Utah wildlife refuge

About 150,000 ducks at the Bear River Bay Migratory Bird Refuge have died and “there’s no end in sight” to what could be the worst botulism outbreak ever in Utah.

“They’re still dying like flies,” said Tom Aldrich, of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

The outbreak has lasted more than a month, with teams of biologists working daily to scoop up thousands of dead waterfowl from the water.

Though serious, the outbreak should have little long-term effect on populations of ducks and other waterfowl, said Al Trout, of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Botulism is poisoning produced by toxins released by bacteria. It commonly occurs among crowded ducks in warm brackish, standing water such as marshes.

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