24 more ducks found dead in Capitol Reflecting Pool

The National Park Service says it removed 24 dead ducks from the Capitol Reflecting Pool on Saturday.

Park Service spokesman Bill Line says officials believe the birds died from avian botulism. Line says the disease is not unusual among ducks, and tends to occur in the summer because it thrives in warmer water.

Two weeks ago, 17 ducks were found dead in the pool, prompting city and federal officials to order chemical and biological tests to determine how they died. Hazardous materials crews were called to the scene, and the area was blocked off for hours.The ducks' bodies from the first incident were sent off for testing. Officials found indications of Avian botulism. They said it is a naturally occurring condition that poses no risk to humans.

The mysterious deaths of 24 ducks and ducklings found floating in the Washington DC Capitol Reflecting Pool recently has been traced to avian botulism, a disease caused by bacteria in hot water that is not contagious to humans, a spokesman for the National Park Service said. "Human beings are totally safe," said the spokesman, Bill Line. "There is no risk of passing avian botulism on to humans." He said that the disease was a "naturally recurring event" in hot summer weather and that it is "happening right now" to young and susceptible waterfowl in many parts of the United States.