Bird flu did not cause a large waterfowl die-off last week on a southern Minnesota lake, the Department of Natural Resources determined after testing some of the dead birds.
More than 125 geese and ducks were found dead Nov. 20 on Loon Lake in Waseca. The preliminary diagnosis is that a fungal infection — most likely contracted by eating contaminated feed or corn — weakened the birds. That, combined with the recent cold spell and the stress of migration, caused deadly pneumonia, according to the DNR.
"It might not have been as massive if it wasn't for the cold snap," said Jeanine Vorland, the DNR's Owatonna area wildlife supervisor.
