Environment DEC
From the December 2008 issue
DEC Warns Against Feeding Waterfowl After Finding Dead and Dying Geese
Recently, a dozen Canada geese were found sick or dead on a pond in northern Clinton County by DEC wildlife staff responding to a report from a concerned citizen. The sick geese were disoriented and unable to fly, and all are expected to die. A necropsy of the dead geese determined that they were infected with aspergillosis, a fungus that grows in the birds' lungs and air sacs causing respiratory distress and, eventually, suffocation.
Moldy Grain Harbors Disease
Aspergillosis is transmitted to waterfowl by the ingestion of moldy grain, such as bread or livestock feed. It has been known to kill large numbers of waterfowl at a time, and for every dead bird recovered, many more may die in remote locations and go unnoticed. Aspergillosis is not contagious and does not present a health risk to humans.
Feeding wild waterfowl causes health problems and unnatural behavior in the birds.
DEC is attempting to locate the food source that contains the fungus. Once located, it will be removed and disposed of or covered to prevent any further waterfowl deaths. DEC is asking the public to not feed geese, ducks and other waterfowl to help prevent this disease and other negative impacts on waterfowl populations. Feeding causes poor nutrition, overcrowding, unnatural behavior, delayed migration, and facilitates the spread of diseases, like aspergillosis, that may result in death.
Stop Feeding Waterfowl
DEC recommends that anyone feeding waterfowl stop before winter sets in and remove any food, such as bread or corn, that is or may become moldy. Recognizing that some people insist on feeding waterfowl despite the negative consequences, DEC urges the following precautions to prevent the spread of aspergillosis:
- Provide only as much food as will be consumed in less than a day.
- Remove all food and food scraps from the feeding area at the end of each day.
- Check for mold while putting food out and remove any moldy items.
- Never feed moldy bread or grain to any bird-throw it out!
Farmers should keep grain piles covered and dispose of moldy grain or silage by burying or tilling it into the soil. Ducks and geese must be discouraged from using areas where moldy agricultural products have accumulated.
Report Diseased or Dead Birds
Please report diseased or dead waterfowl to your nearest DEC wildlife office. The phone number of the nearest DEC wildlife office may be obtained on the DEC Regional Office Directory page of DEC's website.
