Botulism Behind Smolts' Deaths
TriCityHerald.com
2006/06/06
Andrew Sirocchi
Nearly 3.5 million fall chinook smolts that would have been released from Ringold Springs Hatchery this week apparently died from botulism, a toxin they likely ingested when feeding on the rearing pond's earthen bottom.
Tests results released last week by Cornell University Veterinary College found poisonous levels of the toxin in two of 10 samples sent to the school, said John Kerwin, manager of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife hatcheries program.
The department now is waiting for tests from the Washington Aquatic Disease and Diagnostic Laboratory to confirm the findings, but Kerwin said botulism is the most likely suspect.
"When that (test) came back positive, that's when I said we've got at least part of the answer," Kerwin said. "We think it was botulism."
Skunk Sightings Attributed to Building Boom
Tennessean.com
2006/06/06
Chelsea Hadaway
At least 48 rabid skunks have been reported in Tennessee this year, more than double the number for all of 2005, and many of them are coming from fast-growing Rutherford and Williamson counties, state and local health officials say.So far, 17 rabid skunks have been reported in Rutherford County and seven in Williamson County.
And Davidson, which hadn't reported any in several years, has seen seven this year, officials said. Three rabid skunks were reported in the Oak Hill area in April.
The most recent rabid skunk report in Metro was Monday in Forest Hills.
"It's been endemic in Middle Tennessee for a while," said Randy Huskey, nuisance wild animal control coordinator with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
New construction and development in Rutherford County are "wiping out their habitat," said Tracy Hill, director of animal control in Rutherford County. It's not so much that the number of skunks has increased, but people are finding more skunks because they are being pushed out of their natural habitat into human-inhabited areas, Hill said.
No comments:
Post a Comment