St. Paul, MN -- Biologists in Iowa and Wisconsin are trying to figure what disease has killed more than 700 birds on 2 Minnesota lakes. "We're concerned about a die off of this magnitude and we're trying to find out what's causing it," Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Deputy Director of Fish and Wildlife Ed Boggess said.
Boggess says 687 cormorants and 37 pelicans have been found dead on Pigeon Lake in Meeker County and Minnesota Lake in Faribault County. "It could be something that was spread from a bird going from one lake to the other, they're about 100 miles apart," Boggess explained.
"Right now, we're not sure what's causing it, we do know we've got the avian influenza results back and they've all come back negative," DNR Veterinarian Dr. Erika Butler said early Tuesday evening. Butler says several dead birds have been sent to labs in Madison, Wisconsin and Ames Iowa for testing. Biologists could return results later this week or early next week.
Crews will continue to collect and get rid of the dead birds on the two lakes, as they try to keep whatever disease they're dealing with, from spreading. "They form colonies when they have their young. They're highly concentrated so once a disease gets into their population, it's pretty easy to spread," Butler said.
"We don't anticipate that this is anything that could affect people, but obviously it could affect other wild birds and potentially poultry," Boggess added.
State Department of Agriculture workers have warned poultry farmers to closely monitor the birds on their farms.
DNR wildlife experts are monitoring all 40 of the state's cormorant colonies. The only problems found so far have been on Pigeon and Minnesota Lake.
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