150 ducks found dead near Lynden

ISABELLE DILLS - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

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LYNDEN - About 150 ducks were found dead in the Lynden area early this week.

On Monday, Oct. 26, a veterinarian from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife investigated 100 dead ducks in Wiser Lake, and 50 more near the Bylsma levee on the Nooksack River.

The veterinarian suspects the ducks died from Aspergillosis, a fungal infection that can cause pneumonia in birds, said Craig Bartlett, department spokesman. The ducks, mostly mallards and pintails, might have contracted the disease from fermented barley from nearby farms, he said.

Some ducks were sent to a lab to confirm the cause of death. If the ducks died from eating fermented barley, landowners will be notified about the problem.

The case likely won't be turned over to law officers, since it's unlikely the ducks were killed on purpose, Bartlett said.

"If it comes back as something else, like lead poisoning, the case would be investigated further," he said.