Dead Ducks near the Capitol

Seventeen ducks died in the Capitol Reflecting Pool yesterday. The cause so far is unknown, and police searched the site for hazardous materials. The ducks have been sent for testing.

When large groups of birds die suddenly the cause usually turns out to be one of two things. In some cases a flock will get hit with a disease all at once, such as this case of botulism in Lake Erie. (Here are some more examples of common waterfowl diseases.) Another common cause is deliberate or accidental poisoning. This is especially common in urban settings because many property owners see pigeons and starlings as pests and take steps reduce their numbers. (There are cases of this in DC.) Occasionally poisoned bait left for pigeons can accidentally poison other animals, if the bait is not set or monitored properly.