O/T State environmental officials are warning citizens not to feed waterfowl

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Published November 14, 2008 06:00 am - State environmental officials

are warning citizens not to feed waterfowl after a dozen Canada

geese were found sick or dead on a North Country pond.

Fungus sickens geese in Dannemora

Don't feed fowl, local DEC warns

By JEFF MEYERS

Staff Writer

Plattsburgh Press Republican - Plattsburgh,NY,USA

http://www.pressrepublican.com/homepage/local_story_319060054.html

DANNEMORA -- State environmental officials are warning citizens not

to feed waterfowl after a dozen Canada geese were found sick or dead

at a North Country pond.

The sick geese were found about two weeks ago in a pond near the

Dannemora Wastewater Treatment Plant. They were disoriented and

unable to fly and have all succumbed since then.

Tests determined the dead geese were infected with aspergillosis, a

fungus that grows in the birds' lungs and air sacs. It causes

respiratory distress and eventual suffocation.

Birds pick up the fungus by eating moldy grain, such as in bread or

livestock feed.

The fungus can cause large-scale die-offs in waterfowl, but it's not

contagious and poses no risk to humans.

" The birds were not feeding at this pond, " said State Department of

Environmental Conservation spokesman Winchell. " They were

feeding somewhere else and then got sick while resting at this

location. "

Another Canada goose was found dead at the site Wednesday,

increasing concerns that this may be more widespread.

" We were hoping that it had kind of settled itself, and then we

found the dead bird on Wednesday, " Winchell said. " They could be

feeding anywhere and then resting in other parts of the county as

well. "

DEC has not received any other reports of sick or dead waterfowl but

is asking the public to contact the regional wildlife office in Ray

Brook with any unusual sightings.

Officials do not believe the geese were purposely poisoned but that

the birds accidentally ingested moldy food.

DEC is asking the public not to feed waterfowl, to help prevent this

disease and other negative impacts on bird populations.

Feeding ducks and geese can cause poor nutrition, overcrowding,

unnatural behavior, delayed migration and the spread of disease such

as aspergillosis.

Residents who insist on feeding waterfowl should provide only enough

food for birds to eat each day and remove any remaining food at the

end of the day, DEC advises.

Also, people should check for moldy food and should not feed moldy

bread to any birds.

Farmers should keep grain piles covered and dispose of moldy grain

or silage by burial or by tilling the feed into the soil.