Cynthia Davis — Record-Bee staff
LAKEPORT — The city of Lakeport”s new Web site currently lists “Dead Birds at Library Park” under the category of Hot Topics for residents.
It”s an apt description at a time when the heat is on the city and county to quickly respond to dead or dying ducks in the city”s centerpiece park.
The waterfowl are believed to be affected by avian botulism, but the actual cause may never be known for certain due to a miscommunication in regard to the type of samples needed by the Wildlife Investigations Laboratory.
According to a survey of trends from 1980 to 2001 by the Department of Wildlife Fish and Conservation Biology at the University of California Davis, avian botulism is caused by the ingestion of a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum Type C.
This toxin can only be produced under certain conditions that are usually associated with high temperatures and low oxygen concentrations.
Animal protein, often provided through decaying carcasses, is also a necessary ingredient for the toxin”s production.
Dr. Pamela Swift is associate wildlife veterinarian at Fish and Game Wildlife Investigations Laboratory in Rancho Cordova.
Swift explained this week, “High air temperatures, low dissolved oxygen levels, and decomposing organic matter create the ideal environment for the Clostridium bacteria to thrive.”
She added, “It is typical for a fish die-off to precipitate a die-off in birds due to botulism. Because the fish died it provides ideal conditions for the C bacteria to multiply and produce toxins. If you don”t clean up the organic matter like the dead ducks the cycle could continue. More dead birds mean more maggots and more toxin and the cycle gets worse and worse. You try to interfere with the cycle by removing the dead and sick birds.”
Assistant Professor of Research and Extension in the GeoResources Institute and the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at Mississippi State University, Dr. John D. Madsen, examined the data provided in the Department of Water Resources Divisions Supplemental Pesticide Use Report (SPUR) which was released on Aug. 15. In regard to the report, Madsen said, “There is no indication in the SPUR report that anyone exceeded the pesticide application rates.” Madsen added that, “In very dense beds of aquatic plants, where photosynthesis occurs mostly at the top, high temperatures alone, without any aquatic weed spraying at all, are conducive to fish kills.”
Doug Grider, the city of Lakeport”s public works superintendent, said that, despite what has caused the duck die-offs, the city staff is working hard on the cleanup efforts.
“We are checking Library Park at least three times a day for sick, dying or dead ducks,” Grider said. “We have a standard procedure in place, that”s why we called the numbers we did and the health department last Friday, and Richard Knoll is now expanding on it.”
Knoll, Lakeport”s acting city manager, indicated there is a possibility of working with the county”s Office of Emergency Services (OES) on developing a comprehensive response plan, which should include standardized disposal methods and guidelines for the public.
“Nobody has come to us yet in this regard to ask for resources,” said Sgt. Chris Rivera, who heads the county”s OES office. “We might work with them in finding resources they can contact to help mitigate or to abate the problem, but so far we haven”t been contacted by Fish and Game, the Board of Supervisors, the Health Department or any outside or local agencies.”
Rivera added, “It”s important for people to understand that we are not a self-dispatched type of agency; what we offer is resource coordination.”
Typically at the beginning of an avian botulism outbreak event, several carcasses of various species are collected for analysis to determine the presence of botulism toxin and the particular strain.
However, Swift confirmed on Thursday that no tests have been conducted yet for avian botulism because the type of samples required were not provided to her lab by Allan Buckman, a wildlife biologist with California Fish and Game. Buckman said he provided the lab with a sample of a test tube filled with maggots. However, Swift said, “We need freshly dead birds in good shape to be able to test for avian botulism toxins.”
According to Swift, Buckman was to travel to Lake County Friday to gather the samples the lab needs to test for avian botulism, but on Friday Buckman said there were no more samples left to gather. Buckman said he spoke Friday morning with both Elliott and Knoll and they informed him that there were no more dead or sick ducks available to collect at this time.
Meanwhile, Swift said the samples Buckman previously provided for testing for avian influenza should be back within a week.
Senior Fellow at the Center for Biosecurity-University of Pittsburg Medical Center Dr. Penny Hitchcock added, “Human susceptibility to botulism is a debated issue. Because of type E, however, I would not be cavalier about it.”
The county”s Health Department cautions the public to avoid contact with any sick, dead, or dying ducks.
Knoll said that, within the City of Lakeport, the public should contact Public Works at 263-3578 for dead duck removal; outside the city, private property owners should contact Sandie Elliott at SpiritWild, 928-6665.
Contact Cynthia Davis at cdavis@record-bee.com.
