Two thousand snow geese mysteriously fall dead from Idaho sky

Deadly bird disease, avian cholera is suspected as cause of death

Approximately two thousand dead snow geese were collected by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game during the weekend. They were said to be migrating from Mexico to the northern coast of Alaska when they fell dead near bodies of water and an eastern part of a wildlife management area.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - According to the agency's spokesperson Gregg Losinski, it is avian cholera that is being suspected to cause the death, mainly because the consistency of how they died.

"Basically, they just fell out of the sky," he said.

Losinski expressed the biologists are still waiting for the results to confirm if the death was indeed due to a highly contagious disease. The bacteria that could cause disease of this level can live in soil and water for up to four months.

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There were also about 20 bald eagles observed within the area where the carcasses were, but it would be hard to determine whether they were infected and will carry the disease where they go. Unfortunately, the source of the contracted suspected avian cholera which killed the thousands of these birds is still unknown, according to Losinski.

The collected carcasses were burned in order to prevent other birds from feeding on them and contracting the disease, said Steve Schmidt, the Upper Snake Regional Supervisor.

Agency officials explained that although the local wildlife populations are at high risk of contracting the contagious disease, it is in low possibility that humans will be infected.

"Avian cholera was observed in different cases over the past few decades over the region," stated Schmidt. "The outbreaks were only spotted after the birds have died, as they usually do not last long after getting infected."

Birds can be described as in good condition but then just fall out dead from flying or even while they are eating, unknowingly having previously contracted the contagious disease. According to the U.S. Geological Survey's National Wildlife Health Center as cited by the Chicago Tribune, avian cholera is spread in various ways: it could be "from bird-to-bird contact, from contact with 'secretions or feces' from an infected animal, or from ingesting bacteria-containing water and soil."

The birds known to be at high risk of being infected with the disease are geese, gulls, coots and crows.

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