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[Related to this story, CBC Radio News this morning reported that diazinon, an insecticide, was suspected in the poisonings of the gulls, but this article only says, "The investigation showed that some insecticide was put out somewhere on somebodyıs farm. Itıs stuff that they spray in the fields for the smaller bugs and whatever," said Mr. Melanson. "We canıt find the source."] [I believe that diazinon is now banned for use residentially for lawns/yards, but what about rural applications??][JW] ---------------- Chronicle Herald, Wed., June 7, 2007 Poisoning kills hundreds of gulls By BRIAN MEDEL Yarmouth Bureau SOUTHVILLE Dead and dying gulls have been turning up in lakes and along country roads in a remote part of Digby County since the beginning of May. The birds were apparently poisoned, preliminary lab results suggest. Some were still alive when found in a stupefied state, said Tony Melanson, a wildlife technician with the Natural Resources Department. "Itıs the first time that itıs happened here," he said Tuesday, adding he didnıt think the poisoning was deliberate. But it looks like the potent agricultural chemical Diazinon may be the culprit, said Mr. Melanson. As many as 200 birds may have died. "The investigation showed that some insecticide was put out somewhere on somebodyıs farm. Itıs stuff that they spray in the fields for the smaller bugs and whatever," said Mr. Melanson. "We canıt find the source." The gulls, either dead or dying, were found on six or more lakes. "Some were out in Doucetteville just in a small pond . . . there was, like, 18 there," Mr. Melanson said. "Some of them werenıt even dead yet. They were floating in the water. Some were on the side of the road. We had to put those ones down. There were just sitting there. You knew there was something wrong." But that was just the beginning. "We did find some in Sullivans Lake down on the (highway) 340. . . . Hilltown and Easton is the main area where they were." Dead gulls were also found on Bill Lake. Last week someone called department staff from near Ameros Lake in Southville, where more dead birds were found on the water. "We went out with the boat and . . . they were dead from two weeks before that," said Mr. Melanson. "We left them right there." The local volunteer fire department helped clean the lake by tossing the birds into the woods. The investigation is continuing, said Mr. Melanson. About 80 gulls are being stored in a freezer in the department depot near Digby. Others were sent to labs in Truro, Prince Edward Island and Ontario. Most of Nova Scotiaıs mink ranches are inland in Digby County, where the gulls have been found. Earl Prime, manager of the 340 Ranchers Co-op, said heıs heard little about the bird die-off and said it is unusual. The co-op is owned by fur ranchers in the area. Chemicals used in his industry are not typically put out where birds can get at them, said Mr. Prime. Such chemicals include cleaning solutions for mink pens. And gulls donıt usually present a problem for fur farms, he said. "Itıs according to ranch management. If you keep your ranch clean and keep your (waste) buried and composted up you wonıt have a problem with seagulls," he said. ( bmedel@herald.ca)
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