DATE: Tuesday, July 1, 1997                 TAG: 9707010269

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B7   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ROY BAHLS AND LYNN WALTZ, STAFF WRITERS 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   48 lines

SUMMER BOTULISM KILLS DOZENS OF DUCKS IN BEACH BORROW PIT

Nearly two dozen Mallard ducks died in The Lakes section of the city Monday, apparently from botulism.

Many were floating in the borrow pit near the intersection of Holland Road and Lynnhaven Parkway. The mass deaths often happen in the summer when the heat rises and water levels fall, said Skip Scanlon, director of environmental health services for the city.

``Most of the time, it's an avian botulism that is not a danger to humans,'' Scanlon said. ``It's unique to birds.'' The birds will be tested, he said.

Neighbors gathered around the borrow pit in the early evening to watch animal control officers collect the dead animals.

``We've really become attached to the ducks, especially my daughters,'' said Darryl Connette, who has lived in the area for four years. ``They've laid eggs in our yard. I hate it. It's depressing.''

Neighbor Holly Deniziak said several agencies responded Monday, including the Fire Department, animal control, hazardous waste and storm water control.

``They pulled out 10 or 15 ducks,'' Deniziak said. ``Animal control said it was botulism. They told me not to feed them bread, only corn.''

Botulism can occur when temperatures rise and oxygen is depleted from the water. Without oxygen, botulism spores tend to form and secrete a toxin. Ducks ingest the toxin when they dive to the bottom to eat worms, plants and fish.

``The ducks are bottom feeders,'' Scanlon said. ``These things are routinely in the sediment. The ducks stir up the bottom and come up with this organism.''

Apparently nothing can be done to stop the deadly process. A duck suffering from botulism loses muscle control and can barely hold up its head.

The deaths have caused concern about the safety of the water for humans. Scanlon said there is no need for alarm because of botulism, but there is always concern about contact with dead animals, he said. The city Health Department discourages people from swimming in borrow pits and retention ponds.

``It makes it depressing,'' Connette said, ``because when the ducks are here you know the lake is alive.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo

ROY BAHLS

A dead duck floats in the water near a drainage pipe in The Lakes

section of Virginia Beach. Botulism is taking its toll on ducks in

this borrow pit.

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