DOZENS of sick and dead birds on the coast of the US have sparked safety concerns as beachgoers worry about the health of their pets.
Wildlife experts have more questions than answers after a mass of dying birds were located in Dana Point, California this week.
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Doheny State Beach near San Juan Creek has been littered with dead and ailing seagulls and other birds over the past few days as experts try to find out the cause.
“The number all in one day, it does seem a little high for one 24-36 hour period,” Jennifer Stinett, from Coastal Animal Services, told KCAL News.
Stinett along with other wildlife experts are investigating what has caused the mass illness.
Officers from the Dana Point-San Clemente Animal Shelter and the Orange County Animal Services Authority have collected some of the birds from the mouth of the river.
Birds that were ailing and sent to the Wetlands and Wildlife Center in Huntington Beach for treatment did not survive.
Experts have suggested that an Avian Flu outbreak in the north of the state could be responsible.
They are currently investigating if it is connected to the deaths in Dana Point.
“It's just when there's that many sick and dead birds in one area, something's going on,” Executive Director of the Wetlands and Wildlife Center Debbie McGuire told the news outlet.
“Did they get sick in that area? Possibly not, birds fly.
“It could be that they got sick outside of that area and that's where they go to roost and it hit them.”
Meanwhile, Dana Point beachgoers are concerned about the safety of their pets from walking them by the river.
“I think it's a crazy thought if there's something out there that's killing the birds and the wildlife, it's kinda scary if we bring the dogs to the beach,” Julie Timmins told KCAL News.
“Is that going to affect our dogs?”
Meanwhile, on Facebook, user Barbara Schneider posted a status about the issue.
“DEAD AND DYING BIRDS ON BEACH – an unusually high number of seagulls and other birds were found dead or suffering on Doheny State Beach near San Juan Creek over the last few days,” she wrote.
Schneider quoted Stinett on the huge number of dead or unwell birds for a 24-36 hour period.
“Ya think? Thousands of dead fish washing up as well around the world,” she said.
“Connection or coincidence?”
In the comments, she added: ‘Dying birds on the beach, thousands of dying fish washing up…dying ocean perhaps?”
Others asked if testing was underway while one simply wrote: “Biblical.”
Stinett explained that some pathogens are spread around the avian community but that experts need to determine if the issue is contaminated water.
“We certainly need to know that for the safety of the community and those utilizing the beaches,” she added.
Several bird carcasses were taken to a laboratory for testing to determine the cause of death.
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