News - Local News

POSTED: Wednesday, Nov. 04, 2009

State officials: Ducks found near Lynden died of fungal disease

More than 250 ducks found dead last week near Lynden appeared to have died from a fungal disease after eating moldy grain.

Kristin Mansfield, a veterinarian with the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, said necropsies conducted on some of the ducks showed clear signs of aspergillosis, a fungal infection that can cause pneumonia in birds.

The dead ducks, mostly mallards and pintails, were found Oct. 26 by a Fish and Wildlife survey team near Wiser Lake and the Bylsma Levee on the Nooksack River.

Aspergillosis is not contagious and is unlikely to pose a risk to people who cook and eat healthy waterfowl from that area, Mansfield said.

But people should always avoid direct contact with dead or dying birds.

Anyone who finds a group of dead birds is asked to contact Fish and Wildlife at (360) 466-4345, ext. 280.