DATE: Wednesday, July 2, 1997               TAG: 9707020555

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY DIANE WASHINGTON AND ROY BAHLS, STAFF WRITERS 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   84 lines

PEOPLE CAN HELP POISONED DUCKS, EXPERTS SAY

Wildlife experts say that a deadly toxin killing ducks in neighborhood lakes can be easily prevented and the waterfowl saved if neighbors take quick action.

The natural poison, which surfaces every summer in Hampton Roads lakes, was responsible Monday for the deaths of about two dozen ducks in The Lakes section of Virginia Beach near the intersection of Holland Road and Lynnhaven Parkway.

The ducks are succumbing to limbering neck disease or botulism, a bacteria that thrives in water systems without proper oxygen, said Glen Askins, the regional wildlife manager of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

``There's a chance they can live if they are picked up quickly and flushed with lots of fresh water,'' Askins said. ``But it depends on how much toxin is in their system, and how long it's been there.''

Virginia Beach wildlife rehabilitator Nan McClain, who tends to ill, injured and orphaned wildlife, works with hundreds of ducks each year, many of whom suffer from botulism.

McClain's advice to people who come upon an injured or sick duck is to call the Animal Control Bureau or the SPCA and ask for the name of a nearby rehabilitator. If it's dead, they should call animal control for pickup.

But there are a few things residents can do for ailing ducks while waiting for officials to arrive.

``Actually what you give them right away is a mixture of charcoal and water,'' McClain said. ``The charcoal absorbs the toxins and dilutes the poison's effects. The charcoal could be working and absorbing the toxins so that when I actually get the animal it isn't already at death's door.

``I pulled seven out of (Mount) Trashmore last week myself. Six are doing fine. I probably save 80 to 90 percent depending on how sick they are before I get them.''

McClain, who has federal and state permits as a rehabilitator, stressed that this type of botulism is not poisonous to humans and gave several reasons for botulism's severity in Hampton Roads.

``It usually happens on the really hot, hot days for several reasons. But it comes down to the fact that the lakes don't have proper drainage, so there's no aeration.''

Askins agrees.

``We have a lot of of wet systems around here,'' he said. ``They're real deep, but they have no oxygen at the bottom and no good flushing systems. Because there is no oxygen at the bottom, the fish die and float to the surface.''

Askins said the floating dead fish is only the beginning.

``Botflies lay eggs on the dead carcass, and maggots eat the fish becoming concentrated with bacteria,'' he said. ``Then here comes the ducks who eat the maggots with concentrated bacteria or toxin. The ducks ingest the maggots and go into poisoning behavior.''

Askins said the disease is unfortunate, but fixing the water systems can be costly.

``It all has to do with water quality,'' he said. ``You have to have a flushing of the system or it'll happen every year, and it's very expensive to do that.''

McClain said breaking the cycle requires aerating the water, which can be done with drainage pipes or aeration fountains.

Officials said the dead ducks found Monday were the first of the season, but unfortunately it won't be an isolated incident.

``This is just the start,'' said Skip Scanlon, director of environmental health services for the Virginia Beach Health Department.

``I don't feel real good about it and people are concerned about ducks - they like them,'' he said. ``But we go through this every year. It usually starts in July and ends in September or so.''

Askins added that Mother Nature is partly responsible, but so are neighbors of the lakes.

``Part of the problem is people buying Easter ducks and releasing them in the wild when they get tired of them,'' he said. ``That causes over population, more than we can deal with or keep an eye on. Mother Nature has her way of keeping things balanced, but people also need to keep a close watch out if they see one little dead fish - remove it.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo

D. KEVIN ELLIOTT/The Virginian-Pilot

Virginia Beach wildlife rehabilitator Nan McClain, tends to ill,

injured and orphaned wildlife. She suggests that people treating any

sick ducks use a mixture of charcoal and water. Residents can also

help the ducks from getting sick by removing dead fish from the

water. KEYWORDS: DUCK POISONING

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