Wildlife experts are hunting for the source of a disease that has infected birds in Orange County, leading to sick and dead birds twice this month.
The Huntington Beach-based Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center shared Thursday that several birds in the county have been found dead or ill, leading scientists to believe that there is an outbreak of avian botulism in the area.
Avian botulism can lead to birds being unable to fly, walk or hold up their heads, according to the United States Geological Survey. Once sick, birds will typically become paralyzed and die when they become unable to breathe or unable to exit the water.
The latest affected birds included 10 geese that were found Thursday in Lake Forest. One bird was found dead, and officials said the others were in bad shape.
This incident marked the second in the last month where birds have been found dead or ill in the county.
On Aug. 23, the O.C. Register reported 11 birds were found dead and four were found sick in the Aliso Creek area.
Following the deaths, Debbie McGuire told the OC Register that the botulism toxin can develop in low-oxygen environments, like ones created during droughts. McGuire is the director of the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center.
Thursday the wildlife care center worked with a drone pilot to survey a portion of Aliso Creek and surrounding ponds in the city of Lake Forest.
Several sick canada geese were found, along with one sick mallard, the care center said in a Facebook post.
“The drone survey identified a concentration of birds in heavy vegetation along the creek in lake forest. This area will be further inspected by O.C Parks,” the care center wrote. “The purpose is to locate sick and deceased birds and remove them from the area in an effort to slow down and halt the progression of the outbreak.”
Unfortunately, the care center said many birds have lost their lives to the disease, even after being found by care center teams.