Thousands of snow geese that were migrating over Idaho fell to their death in what is believed to be an outbreak of a contagious disease known as avian cholera.
According to the Associated Press, officials with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game said the geese were gathered by both volunteers and staff near Terreton and Roberts. The mysterious deaths were likely due to avian cholera, which develops very quickly and can cause the birds to die midflight.
Reuters reported that the carcasses of the snow geese were incinerated and an agency spokesman, Gregg Losinski, said the state wildlife lab was running tests to determine the official cause of death.
He also said that the chance of humans coming down with avian cholera is very small since wildlife is threatened since they would be closer to the carcasses that were contaminated. The disease is very contagious and the bacteria are able to survive in both soil and water for at least four months.
This outbreak of avian cholera can happen periodically and the U.S. Geological Survey reportedly stated that this particular disease is an important one that has an affect on wild waterfowl in the region of North America.