Cause of Sea Duck Deaths in Alaska Eludes Experts

Biologists are baffled by the mysterious die-off of hundreds of sea ducks that have been found dead this month on Gulf of Alaska shores, wildlife officials said.

Large-scale bird die-offs are so rare in Alaska that state and federal biologists have launched an investigation. Biologists said Friday that they have found about 1,000 birds, mostly white-winged scoters, along the shores of the Gulf of Alaska.