Animal Care and Control and Chicago Park District officials are warning people against fishing in or walking pets near the pond at a Southwest Side park, after more dead wildfowl were found in the area on Thursday.
The Chicago Commission on Animal Care and Control and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources collected seven geese along with two dead mallard ducks from near an island in McKinley Park's lagoon on Thursday, reports the Chicago Tribune.
The discovery of Thursday's dead geese adds to the tally of Tuesday's collection of dead geese near the softball fields at McKinley Park at 2210 Pershing Rd. and Wednesday's addition of 10 more dead birds.
officials with Animal Care say the agency has collected a total of 28 birds this week.
Animal Care and Control is currently working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other state and local agencies to determine what is killing the birds, as necropsies and toxicology test are being conducted on several of the victims.
An official with the Chicago Park District initially suspected poisoning as the cause, but nothing has been officially confirmed.
Animal Care and Control and CPD officials recommend that park visitors avoid fishing and walking their dogs in the grassy areas near the pond/lagoon.
