San Diego
Pesticide poisoning and not botulism may have been the cause of death of 100 birds at Lake Murray last week, according to tests done by County Health Services.
The death of the birds was originally blamed on botulism, an often fatal disease caused by toxins produced by some bacillus. However, tests on tissue samples taken from the mud hens, pigeons, and ducks found dead Friday indicated that the cause of death may have been pesticide poisoning; officials did not rule out the possibility of deliberate poisoning.
County health officials said no water would be taken from the Lake Murray reservoir until an investigation was completed.
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