Botulism Outbreak May Dampen Early Season Waterfowl Hunting

An outbreak of avian botulism at Fort Boise Wildlife Management Area, near Parma, has killed a mix of more than 600 mallards and other waterfowl species in the past few weeks. Fish and Game staff members have been busy collecting and disposing of the waterfowl carcasses in an effort to halt the outbreak. Fort Boise is a favorite location for many waterfowl hunters, and with the season opener slated for Saturday, October 12, hunters might want to consider changing their opening day plans. "The good news is, we've seen no dead ducks in the last 10 days, so it appears the botulism has run its course," Fish and Game habitat biologist Andy Ogden said. "The bad news is, the outbreak killed considerable numbers of local ducks, and these are normally the birds harvested in the first few days of the waterfowl season." Avian botulism is found throughout the environment, with outbreaks occurring when ducks become concentrated, as occurs in the fall when waterfowl stage in certain areas before beginning their migration travels. The disease poses no threat to humans.