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Botulism kills thousands of birds at California refuge
An avian botulism outbreak at Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge has substantially impacted birds in Northern California
Over 75,000 birds have been killed as a result of a botulism outbreak at the Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
Avian botulism, a disease caused by bacteria, can disrupt birds’ nerve function and also cause paralysis and respiratory failure. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the recent outbreak may continue for several more weeks, leading to the death of more birds along the border between California and Oregon.
Botulism can survive in shallow, stagnant water and areas that have a lot of dead vegetation.
Read more via Fox 40 News.
Header Image: An avian botulism outbreak has killed thousands of birds in the Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Northern California. Credit: USFWS Pacific Southwest Region
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