Amid Mystery Duck Die-Off, Baby Goose Gets A Fighting Chance

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — As authorities investigate the mysterious deaths of ducks at a Los Angeles County park, a duck sanctuary in Lake Elsinore is trying to help solve the mystery and save a baby Egyptian goose in the process.

Over the holiday weekend, residents reported finding dying and sickened ducks around Hollenbeck Park's lake in Boyle Heights, according to a KTLA report by Shelby Nelson. Between 15 and 20 ducks reportedly washed up on the shore, according to Duck Pond of Lake Elsinore founder Howie Berkowitz. It took days for the deceased waterfowl to be removed, he said.

With ten years of expertise as a duck rescue operator, Berkowitz asked volunteers to bring the sickened ducks and water samples to his sanctuary for testing on Tuesday. The dead ducks were removed from the shore, but volunteer Vanessa Garcia-Maletz discovered a lone Egyptian gosling as she was taking water samples at the water's edge.

"She said the baby goose was shivering in the water, all alone," Berkowitz told Patch. "When it gets here, we'll treat it with activated charcoal to absorb any poisons it may have ingested, and then will take it to our partner vet in Murrieta to be observed and evaluated."

According to Berkowitz, it takes about $300 per duck for that type of care. Any of the ducks from Hollenbeck Park that are brought into Berkowitz's care will be sequestered from the main flock, he said.

"We need to learn what's making them sick," he said.

Though there remains a possibility the sickness was caused by avian botulism — a lethal disease transmitted by insects—his experience tells him a toxic form of algae at the lake is likely.

"Some algae is good, but other algae types are damaging or even lethal," he said.

The recent heatwave may have contributed to the ducks becoming ill and dying over the weekend. Whatever the cause, Berkowitz hopes that the water samples collected in the field by Garcia-Maletz will tell the tale of what's really going on.

Berkowitz is used to taking in ducks struggling to survive. The Duck Pond of Lake Elsinore provides a sanctuary for ducks and geese who are dropped into their care or abandoned by their owners.

"Instead of loving them, they abandon them," Berkowitz said. "The duck sanctuary becomes their forever home."

Donate to the The Duck Pond of Lake Elsinore's medical fund to help care for rescued waterfowl such as the sickened baby Egyptian goose.

To learn more, visit www.theducksanctuary.com.