Hundreds of dead geese have turned up around a picturesque Southampton pond, sparking an emergency clean-up amid fears of a rampant bird-flu outbreak.
“This situation presents potential health risks to humans, dogs, pets, and other wildlife, particularly through contact with deceased birds and bird excrement,” the town’s trustees said in a statement about the disturbing avian graveyard last week.
“Residents are strongly advised not to handle dead birds and to keep pets away from affected areas.”
The flu is knocking off so many birds that the situation has turned the shores of the typically pastoral town into a macabre mess.
Pictures from the village of Sagaponack show Sagg Pond with bird carcasses lining the edge of the body of water.
The town of Southampton said it is working closely with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation — and hired a nuisance-wildlife-control company — to deal with the dead bird carcasses.
“Due to the scale of this event across beaches, wetlands, and waterways, planning is ongoing,” the town said. “Cleanup efforts are expected to begin shortly.”
If residents spot any dead birds, they’re encouraged to report the corpses’ locations through the Southampton Online Solutions portal.
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