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Jul 13, 2006 9:28 pm US/Mountain
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Officials Investigate The Deaths Of 1,700 Birds
By J. David McSwane
HUGO, Colo. (CBS4) ―
Officials were investigating the deaths of 1,700 doves in Eastern Colorado. Concerned residents said the birds died after a family of local farmers used a pesticide to keep insects from harming their crops.
The U.S. Wildlife Service, along with the Division of Wildlife and the Environmental Protection Agency, are working together to determine if a pesticide is what killed the birds. Officials have ruled out any natural causes for what they are calling "a substantial bird-kill."
"The cause has not been confirmed yet, but we believe it is linked to a pesticide application," said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent Gary Mowad.
Mowad, who oversees eight states including Colorado, said agents are monitoring the area to look for other wildlife that could have been affected by a misuse of a pesticide.
"We are always concerned that there is the possibility of secondary poisoning or mortality that could result when other raptors, hawks, owls and even eagles feed on prey that surcame to one toxic chemical or another," Mowad said.
The farmers responsible for the pesticide application declined to comment.
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