Swan Deaths Under Investigation In Point Pleasant Beach

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, NJ — Authorities are investigating after more than a dozen swans and several geese have been found dead at Lake of the Lilies, officials confirmed Monday.

Local, state and federal authorities have been contacted about the birds, said Christine Riehl, borough administrator for Point Pleasant Beach.

"We lost 11 swans yesterday, and three more this morning," Riehl said Monday, adding the borough's animal control officer was working with the state Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish and Wildlife to determine the cause.

Residents and Point Pleasant Beach police said some geese have died as well, but it's unclear how many.

Police are urging residents to "avoid interacting with any sick, injured or deceased water fowl while these incidents are being investigated."

Fish and Wildlife officials have contacted the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said Larry Hajna, a DEP spokesman.

It's unclear whether the deaths are related to an outbreak of avian influenza, which has affected three backyard flocks, killing 156 birds in New Jersey, according to the USDA.

The outbreak of the highly contagious disease also has killed 49 wild birds in the state, according to the USDA.

The outbreak of the illness led to the euthanization of dozens of birds at Popcorn Park Wildlife Refuge in Lacey Township, and the zoo's decision to halt the sale of peanuts and popcorn to feed to the park's animals, officials at the zoo said.

The zoo shut down last week to sanitize and implement bio-security measures to prevent new infection, Popcorn Park staff said.

Avian flu is classified into two types, low pathenogenic and highly pathenogenic, depending on the severity of the illness it causes in poultry, according to the USDA.

Wild birds can be infected with it and show no signs of illness but can carry it to new areas when they migrate, the agency says.

Avian influenza infections in people are very rare, according to the Centers for Disease Control.