San Diego Ducks Killed Without Incident

Wildlife agents killed diseased ducks from a suburban San Diego lake Friday, saying they are increasingly worried that a rare virus that showed up in Venice could spread to wild migratory flocks.

But animal rights activists, who stayed away from the San Diego roundup and did not try to stop it, accused officials of lying about the situation to pacify bird hunters.

In a scene strikingly different from earlier angry protests in Venice, children swam at the man-made lake’s small beach in the affluent Eastlake housing development while state biologists set up traps and cast nets nearby.

“I think it’s really sad,” said Bonnie Schmuckal, preparing to swim with her two young children. “But they really have no choice.”