Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

USDA: We Poisoned Those 200 Dead Birds

Mass animal death in South Dakota has less-than-mysterious cause

By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 21, 2011 8:04 AM CST

(Newser) – The latest mass animal death—hundreds of dead birds found Monday in South Dakota—is no mystery, reports the Huffington Post: The US government killed them. When more than 200 starlings turned up dead, cold weather was initially suspected as the culprit. But now the USDA has admitted to poisoning the birds, KTIV reports. Some 5,000 birds had apparently been relieving themselves in the feed at a nearby feedlot, which threatened animals and farm workers, said the USDA—so it took action.

The birds were killed by lacing bait with a poison called DRC-1339, and officials said they were surprised at how far the poisoned birds got—about 10 miles—before dying. Click here for more.

Starlings return to roost on the Somerset Levels near Glastonbury on January 7, 2010 in Somerset, England.
Starlings return to roost on the Somerset Levels near Glastonbury on January 7, 2010 in Somerset, England.   (Getty Images)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
My TakeCLICK BELOW TO VOTE
6%
13%
53%
8%
17%
3%
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 20 comments
n230099
Jan 21, 2011 7:51 PM CST
Actually it saved them being killed by the windmills.
maccoole
Jan 21, 2011 7:45 PM CST
The USDA absolutely does this sort of thing. They did it in Lancaster, Pa., but I think fewer birds died in our case. They poisoned crows because thousands migrate here in the winter and people didn't like it when they pooped on their cars, sidewalks, etc. There are other ways to get birds to move, but these so-called wildlife experts don't spend a whole lot of time trying other methods. In the end, there was an outcry over the poisoning in Lancaster. A group formed and every year since, it organizes people who use "pyrotechnics," different kinds of noise making, to get the birds to move from areas where they are being a nuisance. Guess what? It has worked well, and no more birds have been killed. Some folks might be surprised to know what intelligent creatures crows are. They also have a social structure most similar to humans of all animals. Killing doesn't always have to be the answer to trying to cohabit the planet with other animals. After all, we keep taking away their habitat.
TessTalks
Jan 21, 2011 6:14 PM CST
This story sounds just as fishy as all the other "reasons" we've been fed.
Science • US

 
dead animals • dead birds • mysterious animal deaths • bird die-off

 
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Timelines   |   POPSUGAR Tech   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment   |   NewsOne