USDA Poisoned Thousands Of Wild Birds In South Dakota

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) admitted that it intentionally poisoned over 200 wild birds in South Dakota because they were relieving themselves in the feed at a nearby feedlot.

A week ago, residents in Yankton, South Dakota found hundreds of starlings lying dead on the ground or frozen in trees. It was initially thought that extremely cold weather could have been at fault for the mass deaths.

Soon after the dead birds were discovered, the Yankton police department received a call from the USDA, attesting that they had poisoned the birds at a feedlot 10 miles away using bait laced with the poison DRC-1339.

Death from DRC-1339 results from uremic poisoning. The damaged kidneys are unable to excrete the body’s waste products and these build up in the bloodstream to a lethal level.

Apparently, some 5,000 of the birds were defecating in the feed meal, posing a threat to the animals and farm workers. The USDA decided killing them would be the best action to take, reports the Huffington Post.

USDA officials said they were surprised that the poisoned birds were able to get to Yankton before dying. In all, officials estimate nearly 2,000 birds ate the poison. However, since the bait has been removed they don’t expect any more birds to die (KTIV).

This USDA report (PDF) also confirms that similar actions were taken to eliminate blackbirds in North Dakota.

Officials claim that the poison and dead birds pose no risk to humans or the environment, but with poison-filled corpses possibly falling into streams or being eaten by scavengers, it’s hard to believe that no other species will be affected.

Image Credit: Flickr - Elsie esq.

quick poll

vote now!

Loading poll...

no!
leaning no
leaning yes
yes!

no!
leaning no
leaning yes
yes!

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Alice D.

9:49AM PDT on Mar 24, 2012

Judge accepts Scott's Miracle-Gro guilty plea in bird seed case
Company coated its seed in an insecticide known to be toxic to fish and birds and that is not approved for use in bird food. The company has proposed paying a fine of at least $4 million.
Photo: ZUMA Press
From staff and wire reports

Scotts Miracle-Gro has pleaded guilty to breaking federal pesticide laws by using an unapproved insecticide on bird seed that was sold across the nation.

Scotts produced wild bird seed packaged as Morning Song and Country Pride that contained an insecticide intended to prevent insects from eating the product during storage. Production began in 2005 and continued through March 2008, despite warnings from Scott's employees that the chemicals were toxic to birds.

The insecticide, which is toxic to fish, birds and other wildlife, wasn't approved for use in bird food, according to the Associated Press.

U.S. District Court Judge James Graham accepted the guilty plea from the company on Tuesday. The company has proposed that it pay a $4 million fine and give $500,000 to support the study and preservation of wildlife. Graham will make a decision on the terms of the deal at a sentencing date to be determined, the Environmental News Service reported.

The birdseed in question was coated with Storcide II, a chemical insecticide accompanied by warning labels that read: “Toxic to birds, toxic to wildlife” and “Exposed treated seed may be hazardous to birds.&#

send a green star

Ana P M.

9:56AM PST on Jan 13, 2012

Shame on the USDA!!!

Karen H.

10:14AM PST on Jan 10, 2012

The main reason humans are so horrifically bad is we tend to think we are above and apart from "nature". We are just animals as well, and no we are not as special as we think we are. Other members of the animal kingdom are just as smart, if not smarter, they use tools and have language. We think that because we change the planet to suit ourselves we are superior. To the overall ecosystem of the planet, humans are more like a virus or parasite than anything remotely beneficial.
Not only should there be outrage at the death of the birds; but also at the fact that it appears the government is providing pest control services for private enterprise.

Waltraud U.

6:20AM PST on Jan 4, 2012

What monsters again.
I think, that some are not able to live when they cannot kill,
destroy or torture something or somebody.
They have to pay by money and by justice - this should be the way.

peggy p.

8:57PM PST on Jan 3, 2012

and yet "they" say we're crazy conspiracy theorists

Amie K.

5:46AM PST on Jan 3, 2012

Awful - why do so many humans seem to love killing animals??? We don't deserve this amazing planet. :-(

Lynn C.

7:33PM PST on Jan 2, 2012

Actually this heinous behavior is repeated throughout this country and this event just emphasizes the selfish, juvenile mentality of too many people who put money and power on an altar to worship, and make sacrifices to them on a daily basis. Unfortunately, they are in the process of destroying our world for these demanding Gods. Killing these birds for a feedlot says it all, doesn't it.

Norma S.

8:51AM PST on Dec 19, 2011

The USDA and Fish and Game are not invironmentalists. They are killers who are on the side of farmers, cattlemen golf courses...yes, golf courses where millions of innocent animals are murdered by hidious poisons, traps and shootings. A lot of them have vested intrests such as F & G officials in CA who have vast rice farms in the desert. Immagine the displacement of natural life trhere and the huge amounts of water used which is sparce to begin with. The "for profit" people control them. They should all be replaced by invirnmentalists and animal welfare people who are only concerned about the health of the land, water, air and all of the life on and in it..

4:44AM PST on Dec 19, 2011

reprehensible behavior.

Jennifer S.

3:40PM PST on Dec 18, 2011

Shameful. What a terrible waste of taxpayer's money and the most ignorant "resolution" possible to the situation.