The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is looking into what may be causing birds in Lake Ontario to wash up dead in Oswego, Wayne and Jefferson Counties.
Botulism is suspected in the death of thousands of water birds in the Great Lakes since 2002.
The DEC has been investigating the deaths of ducks, grebes, loons, and other fish eating water fowl. The state department of health will soon confirm whether type E Botulism is to blame.
Birds typically get the toxic bacterium from the fish they eat. The illness causes paralysis. The paralyzed waterfowl then drown.
The DEC warns not to handle dead or sick birds with bare hands. Hunters should not each birds that appear sick.