City Urges Residents To Report Dead Birds Amid Botulism Outbreak

MISSION VIEJO, CA — Mission Viejo residents were urged by the city Wednesday to report sick or deceased birds to the city's Animal Services Center, after an outbreak of avian botulism was reported at a local park.

According to the city, the outbreak was first reported when several mallards were reported sick or dead in the Aliso Creek at Sycamore Park.

After Animal Services officers arrived, they found 14 dead mallards and six sick mallards. Officers also found several piles of bread left by a person who was likely feeding or trying to feed the wildlife, the city said.

The birds were quickly removed from the area, and the sick mallards were sent to the Wetlands & Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Huntington Beach while the dead birds were sent to the state's Department of Fish & Wildlife Health Laboratory for testing.

According to officials, the symptoms of the mallards indicated that the likely suspect was exposure to Avian Botulism C.

"While avian botulism outbreaks are not typically associated with human illness, they are caused by a toxin-producing bacteria that occurs naturally in bodies of water," City Spokesperson Kelly Tokarski told Patch. "The bacteria grow as water temperatures rise and the water becomes stagnate."

During bacterial growth, the botulinum toxin is produced and becomes concentrated in the bodies of small invertebrate — such as fly larvae. The flies are then consumed by waterfowl and other birds, which sickens them.

Tokarski said that since the avian botulism bacteria is spread from other birds ingesting maggots from carcasses, it is "imperative" to collect dead birds as soon as possible to mitigate the spread of the outbreak.

While residents were urged to be on the lookout of any sick or deceased birds, the city is hard at work tasking volunteers with locating any birds afflicted by the sickness.

"On Sunday, the Animal Services Department activated the HOWL — Helping Wildlife Out Locally — Volunteer program," Tokarski said. "Our volunteers have been working diligently, patrolling Aliso Creek to identify and report deceased and sick birds, so Animal Control officers can response and immediately remove the animals."

Residents who encounter a sick or deceased bird were asked to report the case to the Mission Viejo Animal Services Department by calling 949-470-3045.

Residents were also reminded to refrain from feeding wildlife, as it is both illegal and detrimental to the animals well-being, Tokarski said.