Authorities search for Hazmats after ducks found dead in Capitol Reflecting Pool

[Ian David]

EDIS Number: HZ-20080713-17554-USA
Date / time: 13/07/2008 15:08:23
Event: HAZMAT
Area: North-America
Country: USA
State/County: Capital City
City: Washington D.C.
Number of Deads: None or unknow
Number of Injured:None or unknow
Damage level: Minor

Description:

Authorities searched near the Capitol into the early hours of Saturday morning for possible hazardous materials after more than a dozen ducks were found dead in the Capitol Reflecting Pool.

District of Columbia police and fire department personnel and federal officers tested for chemical, biological and radiological agents after 17 dead ducks were spotted in the pool, D.C. Assistant Police Chief Patrick Burke said. The tests were precautionary because of the proximity to the Capitol, Burke said.

There was no indication of what caused the deaths. The pool is at the east end of the Mall, at the edge of the Capitol lawn. "It's a mystery," D.C. Fire and Emergency Services Department spokesman Alan Etter said.

He noted that whatever caused the deaths might have been encountered "at another location." Etter said authorities remained at the scene until about 4:30 a.m. Saturday. Burke said that the ducks have been sent for testing and that authorities are awaiting the results.

More:
http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/woalert_read.php?lang=eng&edis=HZ-20080713-17554-USA

[Cleita]

1. Sometimes cruel people feed poisonous feed to ducks and pigeons because

they are dickheads. I hope that they autopsy said mallards to find out why.

[Ian David]

2. I predict the investigation will be hampered by claims of Executive Privilege. n/t

[asjr]

3. Old age?

[Ian David]

4. Over a dozen of them at once? n/t

[kestrel91316]

5. They'd do well to look at the likelihood of avian botulism

rather than TERRAISM or some such crap. Hot weather and mucky water often leads to the sort of water conditions conducive to botulism.

[lepus]

7. gotta go with kestrel on this one

Most animals in a herd are fed the same stuff and live in the same conditions.

I've had some type of intestinal parasite drop two goats in the same day. Both were fat and healthy then just dropped. Anemia from the parasites.

How many ducks are there in the first place? That gives a real good indication of what happened.

It could very well be environmental.

[Crowman1979]

6. Are they using the Anacostia river to fill the pool up?

The most polluted river in the US BTW. Wouldn't be surprised if that is what killed the ducks.