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Hosea 4:3 being fulfilled? Thousands of Birds and Fish Suddenly Die!!!

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March 27, 2024, 12:55:24 pm Mark says: Shocked Shocked Shocked Shocked  When Hamas spokesman Abu Ubaida began a speech marking the 100th day of the war in Gaza, one confounding yet eye-opening proclamation escaped the headlines. Listing the motives for the Palestinian militant group's Oct. 7 massacre in Israel, he accused Jews of "bringing red cows" to the Holy Land.
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September 24, 2017, 10:45:16 pm Psalm 51:17 says: The specific rule pertaining to the national anthem is found on pages A62-63 of the league rulebook. It states: “The National Anthem must be played prior to every NFL game, and all players must be on the sideline for the National Anthem. “During the National Anthem, players on the field and bench area should stand at attention, face the flag, hold helmets in their left hand, and refrain from talking. The home team should ensure that the American flag is in good condition. It should be pointed out to players and coaches that we continue to be judged by the public in this area of respect for the flag and our country. Failure to be on the field by the start of the National Anthem may result in discipline, such as fines, suspensions, and/or the forfeiture of draft choice(s) for violations of the above, including first offenses.”
September 20, 2017, 04:32:32 am Christian40 says: "The most popular Hepatitis B vaccine is nothing short of a witch’s brew including aluminum, formaldehyde, yeast, amino acids, and soy. Aluminum is a known neurotoxin that destroys cellular metabolism and function. Hundreds of studies link to the ravaging effects of aluminum. The other proteins and formaldehyde serve to activate the immune system and open up the blood-brain barrier. This is NOT a good thing."
http://www.naturalnews.com/2017-08-11-new-fda-approved-hepatitis-b-vaccine-found-to-increase-heart-attack-risk-by-700.html
September 19, 2017, 03:59:21 am Christian40 says: bbc international did a video about there street preaching they are good witnesses
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Author Topic: Hosea 4:3 being fulfilled? Thousands of Birds and Fish Suddenly Die!!!  (Read 35720 times)
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« Reply #330 on: September 10, 2013, 06:08:42 pm »

http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.orf.at%2Fstories%2F2197454%2F
9/6/13
Mysterious whale deaths in Ghana

 Environmentalists and government officials in Ghana currently puzzled about the cause of a large whale deaths.  Since Friday, five dead whales were stranded on the coast of the West African country, as a representative of the Fisheries Commission said.  The Commission will establish a dedicated team to investigate the causes.

 To speculation that oil production off the coast of Ghana is responsible for the deaths of marine mammals, said both the Fisheries Commission as well as environmentalists, but there was no evidenceAccording to the environmental group Friends of the nation since 2009, 16 whales died in Ghanaian watersThis was an unusually large number, the organization called for an official investigation.

 Ghana had begun in December 2010, with oil production in the Atlantic Ocean.  The chairman of Friends of the Nation, Donkris Movuta said, this temporal interaction with the whale deaths could be "a coincidence".  "It can be anything in the marine world," he said.  The question is why does not the carcasses would sink to the ocean floor, but were washed ashore.

 In Kokrobite resort 50 kilometers from the capital Accra removed a partially decomposed whale carcass became an attraction.  Sea parted the animal to a local tradition upside down - and were paid his visit of tourists.  Some walkers have been photographed lying in the surf on the body of the dead whale.
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« Reply #331 on: September 10, 2013, 06:12:09 pm »

http://www.atascaderonews.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=72&story_id=6212
9/6/13
BREAKING NEWS Fish die-off at Atascadero Lake(California)

City public works crews cleaned more than 2,000 pounds of fish from the Atascadero lakeshore Friday resulting from a sudden die-off.

 "We knew the oxygen levels were getting low; we tested them [Thursday] and saw they were getting low,” said Bob Joslin, Atascadero public works operations manager. “We went [Friday morning] to test them again and saw the fish were dead on the shore.”

 Joslin said drought conditions this year have produced a quickly evaporating body of water at the Atascadero Lake Park, one that now holds its deepest points at just four-to-five feet, a good eight feet lower than the lake is at its fullest.

 The low water levels mean lower oxygen content for the fish, and that brings a deadly consequence for the animals.

 Part of the problem is that the so-called lake is not really what its name implies.

“It’s not really a lake, it’s a big pond, and when the water gets hot, it starts to stagnate,” Joslin said. “We’re being as proactive as we can. We do what we can do, but with this weather and the low levels, there’s not a lot we can do. It’s a natural phenomenon, and it’s happened before.”

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« Reply #332 on: September 10, 2013, 06:16:32 pm »

High number of Bottlenose dolphins dying off north eastern USA
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/bottlenose-dieoff.html#cr

Bottlenose dolphin unusual mortality event in the Mid-Atlantic
August 2013. Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (as amended), an Unusual Mortality Event (UME) has been declared for bottlenose dolphins in the Mid-Atlantic region from early July 2013 through to the present day. A much higher number than usual of strandings of Bottlenose dolphins has occurred in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.

These Bottlenose dolphin strandings are more than seven times the historical average for the month of July for the Mid-Atlantic Region. All age classes of bottlenose dolphins are involved and strandings range from a few live animals to mostly dead animals with many very decomposed.

As yet, there are no unifying gross necropsy findings although several dolphins have presented with pulmonary lesions. Preliminary testing of tissues from one dolphin indicates possible morbillivirus infection, although it is too early to say whether or not morbillivirus may be causing this event.

Probably infectious disease
Based on the rapid increase in strandings over the last two weeks and the geographic extent of these mortalities, an infectious pathogen is at the top of the list of potential causes for this UME, but all potential causes of these mortalities will be evaluated. Work is underway to determine whether an infectious agent affecting these dolphins is present in collected tissue samples.

25 years since last major event when more than 740 dolphins died
It has been 25 years since the 1987-1988 bottlenose dolphin morbillivirus mortality event that occurred along the mid-Atlantic coast, involving more than 740 animals and spanning from New Jersey to Florida. That massive die-off, along with a humpback whale mortality event in 1987 off the coast of Massachusetts and the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill prompted Congress to formally establish the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program with the specific instructions for the UME Program as Title IV of the MMPA.

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« Reply #333 on: September 10, 2013, 06:20:54 pm »

http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ethnos.gr%2Farticle.asp%3Fcatid%3D22768%26subid%3D2%26pubid%3D63882209
Thousands of dead fish in the lake Ismarhida(Greece)
 
About 10 tons of dead fish counted identified lake Ismarhida by members of the Management Nestos Delta - Vistonidas - Ismarida and colleagues Democritus University of Thrace, which carry out downloads water samples under a research program.

"The extent of the phenomenon is unique.  Despite the fact that each year identifies quantities of dead fish in the lake, this year is the first time we see such a large amount, "said Chairman of the Management Manos Koutrakis.

 However, the executives have proceeded in taking measurements of water quality and, in particular, the amount of dissolved oxygen in water at various points in the lake, as the first evidence showing that prevailing conditions of oxygen deficiency by yet unknown cause, both esodeftiko mouth lake and at this point north.

 "We excluded firstly due to the phenomenon of illegal fishing using dynamite and we conclude that the death of fish due to anoxic conditions developed in the lake, that is, for some unknown reason, the water has no oxygen," explains Mr. Koutrakis .

In went and step consisting of departments of EE  Rodopi and members of fisheries cooperatives Maronias that established the existence of thousands of dead fish, both in ichthyosylliptikes facilities and in all the banks of canals and the coast of the lake.

 "The dead fish are mainly mullet and eels and little butterflies.  The important thing is not to lose endemic species such as the gelartza (Alburnus vistonicus), and for this reason we must move quickly to remove all the dead fish, which are rotting in the water absorb more oxygen, "said Mr. Koutrakis .

 Management Body has already proceeded in sending the document to the competent authorities to take all necessary measures as to endanger the fish population of the lake and the whole ecosystem.

 Furthermore, because of the decomposition of dead fish, collated because of the movement of water in ichthyosylliptikes facilities, combined with high temperatures prevailing issues arise and protect public health.
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« Reply #334 on: September 12, 2013, 08:24:21 pm »

Massive starfish die-off near British Columbia baffles scientists: NOTICE NO TALK OF FUKUSHIMA CORRELATION? STARFISH WERE SOME OF THE FIRST INDICATORS OF RADIATION RELATED DEATHS VERY SOON AFTER FUKUSHIMA IN JAPANESE WATERS!

September 12, 2013 – CANADA - The waters off British Columbia, Canada, are littered with dead starfish, and researchers have no idea what’s causing the deaths. At the end of August, marine biologist and scuba enthusiast Jonathan Martin was out on his usual Saturday dive with some friends when he noticed something unusual. “We just started noticing dead starfish that looked like they had their arms chopped off,” Martin said. They were sunflower starfish (Pycnopodia helianthoides), a major marine predator in the area that feeds mostly on sea urchins and snails. Like most starfish, the sunflower starfish can regenerate lost limbs—it can have up to 20—and can grow to be up to three feet (a meter) across. Since Martin was diving in an area frequented by crabbers, at first he thought the sunflower starfish had gotten caught in some of the crab traps and had lost limbs escaping. But Martin kept seeing large numbers of dead starfish as he and his friends swam to a marine park where such crab fishing is illegal. Martin knew then it wasn’t the traps that were causing the starfish deaths. After returning from the dive, he visited friends at a local dive shop who were active in marine conservation. Without any definitive answer, he shared photos on Flickr and videos on YouTube—taken at Lion’s Bay and Whytecliff Park in Vancouver—to try to get ideas from others about what was going on.
“It really struck a chord in other divers who were seeing it on Facebook and social media, both locally and as far away as California, who had been seeing similar things,” Martin said. “[The starfish] seem to waste away, ‘deflate’ a little, and then just … disintegrate. The arms just detach, and the central disc falls apart. It seems to happen rapidly, and not just dead animals undergoing decomposition, as I observed single arms clinging to the rock faces, tube feet still moving, with the skin split, gills flapping in the current. I’ve seen single animals in the past looking like this, and the first dive this morning I thought it might be crabbers chopping them up and tossing them off the rocks. Then we did our second dive in an area closed to fishing, and in absolutely amazing numbers. The bottom from about 20 to 50 feet [6 to 15 meters] was absolutely littered with arms, oral discs, tube feet, gonads and gills … it was kind of creepy.” Both Mah and Martin also wonder if a population explosion of the species, which began about three years ago, has something to do with the deaths. “It was an unprecedented increase, so maybe what we’re seeing is just sort of a bursting of the bubble. The animals just reached a density that was unsustainable,” Martin suggested. –National Geographic

http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/09/09/massive-starfish-die-off-baffles-scientists/
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« Reply #335 on: September 13, 2013, 02:50:52 pm »

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/cause-salamander-die-found-skin-eating-fungus-8C11079660
9/5/13

Cause of salamander die-off found: Skin-eating fungus

A newly discovered fungus that feasts on the skin of amphibians is threatening to decimate a species of salamander in the Netherlands, according to new research.

Fire salamanders are one of the most recognizable salamander species in Europe, and are characterized by their distinct yellow- and black-patterned skin. Since 2010, fire salamanders have been mysteriously dying off in the forests of the Netherlands.

Now, scientists have identified a deadly fungus, called Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans(the second part of the name translates to "salamander-eating"), that they say is jeopardizing biodiversity and bringing fire salamanders close to the brink of regional extinction. [Photos: Bizarre Frogs, Lizards and Salamanders]

Previously, a fungus species related to the salamander-eating variety was the culprit behind mass amphibian casualties around the globe. That fungus, named Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, or Bd, is thought to have devastated more than 200 amphibian species worldwide, the researchers said. The fungus Bd also causes the disease chytridiomycosis, which has been labeled the most devastating infectious disease in vertebrate animals by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

The detection of a new fungus that rapidly kills fire salamanders is an alarming development, said An Martel, a professor in the department of pathology, bacteriology and poultry diseases at the Ghent University in Belgium, and lead author of the new study.

"In several regions, including northern Europe, amphibians appeared to be able to co-exist with Bd," Martel said in a statement. "It is, therefore, extremely worrying that a new fungus has emerged that causes mass mortalities in regions where amphibian populations were previously healthy."

The fungus can be spread between salamanders through direct contact, and although the researchers suspect it can also spread through indirect contact, they have yet to prove this type of transmission. The fungus typically invades the salamander's skin, quickly killing the animal, the scientists said.

Still, much is unknown about the newly identified fungus. Tests to infect midwife toads, which have been threatened by chytridiomycosis, have shown that these toads are not susceptible to the salamander-eating fungus. Nonetheless, the vulnerability of other species of amphibians to the disease is not yet known.

"It is a complete mystery why we are seeing this outbreak now, and one explanation is that the new salamander-killing fungus has invaded the Netherlands from elsewhere in the world," study co-author Matthew Fisher, a professor of fungal disease epidemiology at Imperial College London, said in a statement. "We need to know if this is the case, why it is so virulent, and what its impact on amphibian communities will be on a local and global scale."

By figuring out which species are at risk, scientists may be able to take steps to protect vulnerable populations in the wild, he added.

"Our experience with Bd has shown that fungal diseases can spread between amphibian populations across the world very quickly," Fisher said. "We need to act urgently to determine what populations are in danger and how best to protect them."

To save the fire-salamander population in the Netherlands, the researchers brought survivors into captivity. The scientists have also developed a diagnostic tool to quickly identify the fungus, which they used to test 100 salamanders from Belgium. So far, there are no indications that the deadly fungus has spread outside the Netherlands, the researchers said.

The study findings were detailed Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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« Reply #336 on: September 17, 2013, 01:02:20 pm »

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/magazinedetails/magazine/environment/Fish-found-dead-at-il-Maghluq-died-from-lack-of-oxygen-20130914
Fish found dead at il-Maghluq died from ‘lack of oxygen’

Hundreds of fish found dead at il-Maghluq in Marsascala

9/14/13

Hundreds of fish found dead at il-Maghluq in Marsascala died from lack of oxygen, the Fisheries Department reported today.

The revelation comes after environment NGO Nature Trust reported it was investigating reports of mass death of fish seen floating at il-Maghluq.

The Fisheries Department said the fish were sea bream and sea bass and cleaners were deployed to clean the area, collecting over six large bags of fish.

According to Nature Trust, the species was not usually found at il-Maghluq. "Our concern is for the rare and protected species, the killifish, which can be found in this salt marsh," the NGO said.

It said it was working with the Local Council, MEPA and the voluntary group Friends of Marsaskala to clean up the area from all the rubbish accumulated during the years as a short term conservation measure till MEPA approved the management plan for this site.

Il-Maghluq is one of the rarest habitat found across the Maltese Islands and is currently undergoing a management plan under the Natura2000 network.

"The incident of the dead fish is another atrocious incident which took place this year, the previous one being the killing of the ducks," Nature Trust said.

The NGO received information that someone had dumped the fish there in the early hours of this morning.  The NGO urged the public to keep il-Maghluq clean and report any illegal activity to the police. 

"We aim to see the area restored to its natural glory and for it to be enjoyed by locals and visitors," said Vincent Attard, Executive President of Nature Trust Malta.

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« Reply #337 on: September 17, 2013, 01:04:44 pm »

http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/41-dead-swallows-found-on-road-in-hyogo
41 dead swallows found on road in Hyogo(Japan)
National Sep. 13, 2013 - 02:20PM JST ( 14 )
HYOGO —
Police in Hyogo Prefecture said Friday that a large number of swallows were found dead strewn along a road in Kamigori.

According to police, the birds were found around 11:30 a.m. on Thursday. TBS reported that an inspection of a 64-meter-long stretch of road in the town turned up the remains of 41 swallows.

Local officials say that although the cause of the birds’ deaths is unknown, a preliminary check for avian flu returned a negative result.

Hyogo prefectural officials said it is continuing to investigate the reason for the unusual number of dead swallows in the area, and will carry out further tests for viruses related to avian influenza.

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« Reply #338 on: September 17, 2013, 01:07:55 pm »

http://en.ria.ru/russia/20130913/183414987/10-Dead-Whales-Found-Along-Chukotka-Coast.html
Russia: 10 Dead Whales Found Along Chukotka Coast
9/13/13

MOSCOW, September 13 (RIA Novosti) – A team of Russian scientists has found the remains of 10 gray whales washed ashore in Russia’s most northeasterly region Chukotka, the Marine Mammal Council said Friday.

The remains were discovered during an aerial survey of Chukotka’s Arctic coast between September 1 and 8.

Stanislav Belikov, head of marine wildlife conservation at the All-Russian Research Institute for Nature Protection, said the 10 marine mammals had washed up on the 800-kilometer (500-mile) stretch of the coast.

"This is quite a few, especially considering that six of these whales were washed ashore within a coastal area of 120 kilometers. They were possibly wounded by hunters or attacked by killer whales. We also shouldn’t rule out the possibility of a disease. In any case, reasons for this incident should be investigated,” Belikov said.

According to the Marine Mammal Council, the number of recently deceased gray whales could be higher because not all dead whales wash up on shore.
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« Reply #339 on: September 17, 2013, 01:11:58 pm »

http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fnbnews.com.ua%2Fru%2Fnews%2F99473%2F
In the Donetsk region because of the mass discharge of mine water kills fish
9/13/13

Quote
According to the testimony of the analysis of water from the second settler, who had Krasnoarmejsky sanepidemstantsiya workers, it became clear that the fish died due to overvalued levels of hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, and a very low oxygen.

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« Reply #340 on: September 17, 2013, 01:16:03 pm »

http://www.bennettcountyboostersd.com/news/636-deer-die-off-occurring-again-this-year
9/13/13
Deer die off occurring again this year(South Dakota)
Posted in News on 13 September 2013.

A whitetail deer die off is occurring again this year in Bennett County. At this point there have only been a few reports of dead deer, and all have been from the eastern part of the county.

The most likely cause of the die off is epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), which was the cause of the die off in 2012. At this point all of the deer reported dead in this area have been whitetails, but one mule deer was confirmed to have died of the disease in a different county.

Other counties north of us are also reporting losing whitetails. There are several strains of EHD, with some of the strains affecting whitetail deer, mule deer, antelope and elk. The strain that was present last year did kill some mule deer and some elk, although the primary loss was whitetails.

There were also some reports last year of cattle being infected in the area. Prior to last year, it was assumed that while cattle can carry the disease, they did not show any symptoms.

Weather conditions more than anything else will determine if the die off becomes severe again this year or whether the die off is limited. If the conditions remain hot and dry, the conditions are right for the breeding of the black gnats and midges, which carry the disease. If it turns cool, the breeding cycle may slow and the die off may not be as severe.

Hemorrhagic disease may kill deer within 72 hours of infection. Some deer will survive but will show signs of lameness, loss of appetite, and much reduced activity. A smaller proportion of animals may be disabled for weeks or months by lameness or emaciation.

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« Reply #341 on: September 17, 2013, 01:18:41 pm »

http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.dayoo.com%2Fguangzhou%2F201309%2F13%2F73437_32486317.htm
Huangpu Wu Chung ten pounds of dead fish floating 2000 is the third time this year(China)
9/13/13

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« Reply #342 on: September 17, 2013, 01:24:10 pm »

http://www.nj.com/sussex-county/index.ssf/2013/09/unusual_outbreak_hits_stanhope_four_foxes_test_positive_for_rabies.html
'Unusual' outbreak hits Stanhope(New Jersey): Four foxes test positive for rabies
9/11/13

STANHOPE — Four foxes have tested positive for rabies in Stanhope, an unusual occurrence that has prompted health officials to urge residents to get their pets vaccinated immediately.

The rabies-infected animals were among five foxes destroyed by police and tested after they had charged two police officers and people walking their dogs in the vicinity of Lake Musconetcong.

One woman was bitten on both ankles and her dog was also bitten by a fox today on Musconetcong Road. Her dog was one of two that bitten last week, police said.

“This is unusual, four out of five is unusual. It’s an anomaly” Sussex County health administrator Herb Yardley said.

People need to have their animals vaccinated for rabies. Even pets that don’t go outdoors. If they get out just once, they could be exposed,” said Yardley, speculating that a single den of foxes could have been exposed in Stanhope after one of its members became rabid.

Ralph D’Aries, chief of the rabies program at the county Department of Environmental and Public Health Services, said the woman who was bitten is undergoing treatment for her injuries and the dogs, who had been vaccinated, are being quarantined for 45 days as a precautionary measure.

Another person was bitten on a shoe and another man was bitten on the back of his jeans, police said.

Had the two dogs not been vaccinated, said D’Aries, they would face a much stricter quarantine regimen, including no exposure to humans or other animals for six months.

“That’s cruel,” he said.

More recently, Stanhope police destroyed a fox on Monday after it was “chasing people around” at a park near Lake Musconetcong, Police Chief Steven Pittigher said.

Police are being especially vigilant about the possibility of rabid foxes in the area, said Pittigher.

“If we see any animal showing signs of disease, we will destroy the animal,” he said.

Hopatcong animal control officer Dale Sloat, who assisted in the Stanhope investigation, said residents should notify police if they see an animal exhibiting the following behaviors:

• Overly aggressive
• Not afraid of people
• Infrequent movement
• It falls over while standing or walking
• It walks or runs in circles

Rabies, a viral disease that causes encephalitis in warm-blooded animals, can be fatal to humans if left untreated and is most commonly transmitted by dog bites.

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« Reply #343 on: September 17, 2013, 01:29:27 pm »

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/12/hawaii-honolulu-molasses-spill-fish-dying
9/12/13
Thousands of fish dying as 1,400 tons of molasses ooze into Honolulu harbor

The state may fine the shipping company, Matson, for violating the Clean Water Act after it investigates Monday's spill


Thousands of fish have died in Honolulu waters after a leaky pipe caused 1,400 tons of molasses to ooze into the harbour and kill marine life, state officials said.

Hawaii department of health deputy director Gary Gill said on Thursday about 2,000 dead fish had been collected in waters near Honolulu harbour.

The fish are dying because the high concentration of molasses is making it difficult for them to breathe, said department spokeswoman Janice Okubo. Television footage shows some fish sticking their mouths out of the water.

The department has warned people to stay out of the area because the dead fish could attract sharks and other predators such as barracuda.

The brown, sugary substance spilled on Monday from a pipe used to load molasses from storage tanks to ships sailing to California. The shipping company, Matson Navigation, repaired the hole and the pipe stopped leaking on Tuesday morning, spokesman Jeff Hull said.

A senior Matson executive said on Thursday the company had not planned for the possibility of a spill. Vic Angoco said Matson had planned only for spills of oil or other chemicals.

As much as 233,000 gallons of molasses leaked into the harbour, Matson said. That's equivalent to what would fill about seven rail cars or about one-third of an Olympic-sized swimming pool.

Underwater video taken by Honolulu television station Hawaii News Now showed dead fish, crabs and eels scattered along the ocean floor of the harbor and the water tinted a yellowish brown.

State officials expect the spill's brown plume will remain visible for weeks as tides and currents flush the molasses into the nearby Keehi Lagoon and out to sea. Gill said officials believed the best plan was to let currents flush out and dilute the molasses.

There's a possibility the state could fine Matson for violations of the Clean Water Act after the department investigates the circumstances of the spill, Okubo said. The state's focus is currently on public safety, she said.

The state was documenting the fish it collected and keeping them on ice for possible testing. Officials were also collecting water samples. The data will allow the department to estimate the duration and severity of the contamination.

Matson ships molasses from Hawaii to the mainland about once a week. Molasses are a made at Hawaii's last sugar plantation, run by Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. on Maui.

Matson said in a statement it takes its role an environmental steward very seriously. The company is taking steps ensure spills don't occur in the future, it said.

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« Reply #344 on: September 20, 2013, 11:25:20 am »

http://news.msn.com/science-technology/wildlife-managers-track-mysterious-deer-die-off-in-montana
Wildlife managers track mysterious deer die-off in Montana
9/20/13

A tally of 103 dead deer on Tuesday has wildlife officials searching for possible causes.

Wildlife managers in Montana are trying to pinpoint whether a disease, environmental toxin or chemical agent has caused a die-off of more than 100 whitetail deer in wetlands along a river corridor in the western part of the state.

The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks office in Missoula began to receive reports from landowners and boaters 10 days ago of dead deer along the Clark Fork River, and state wildlife biologists had tallied 103 deer carcasses by Tuesday.

"The deer appear to drop dead in their tracks," said agency educator Vivaca Crowser, adding that the deer showed no outward signs of injury or sickness.

Wildlife experts said a viral disease transmitted by tiny biting flies that hatch near bodies of water may be the culprit, but they were awaiting results from testing by a state lab of organ and blood samples.

The malady, epizootic hemorrhagic disease, mostly affects whitetail deer and is often fatal to them, causing hemorrhaging of the heart, liver, spleen and all other organs. The disease has not been shown to affect humans, Crowser said.

But there has been no known prior outbreak of the disease in Missoula or elsewhere in Montana west of the continental divide, Crowser said.

"Everything is still on the table in terms of possible causes. But if it's epizootic hemorrhagic disease, that would be unique," she said, adding that the lab was also investigating whether the cause could be an unidentified "toxin, a poison or another disease."

Outbreaks of the epizootic disease in whitetail deer were first documented in 1955 in New Jersey and Michigan. Michigan saw the disease reach epidemic proportions last year, killing nearly 14,900 whitetail deer, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.

There is no effective treatment for the disease, which tends to abate in colder climates after the first hard frost in fall or early winter.

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« Reply #345 on: September 20, 2013, 01:21:58 pm »

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Outbreaks of the epizootic disease in whitetail deer were first documented in 1955 in New Jersey and Michigan. Michigan saw the disease reach epidemic proportions last year, killing nearly 14,900 whitetail deer, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.

Knowing how large the deer populations have become, that sounds like culling by somebody. Imagine how many people you can feed with 14000 deer!
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« Reply #346 on: September 21, 2013, 02:32:28 pm »

http://missoulian.com/news/local/biologists-floored-by-mortality-of-whitetail-deer-along-clark-fork/article_a11345b8-20d9-11e3-b61b-001a4bcf887a.html
Biologists 'floored by mortality' of whitetail deer along Clark Fork River
9/18/13

FRENCHTOWN – Something is killing whitetail deer by the dozens along the Clark Fork River.

“This feels strange,” Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologist Jay Kolbe said as he walked through high grass on an island across from the former Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. pulp mill. “We ought to be bumping into whitetail all along here.”

Instead, the only deer visible were bloated carcasses sticking out of the water, or lying half-eaten on the shore. In the trees, three immature bald eagles, a golden eagle and several hawks shuffled about, waiting for another chance to feed on the carrion.

In a 30-minute walk, Kolbe came across 15 dead deer in various states of decay. He waded into a pool to pull one relatively fresh one to shore for closer examination. The fur on its lower jaw was still slightly bloodstained, and its mouth showed the signs of internal hemorrhaging.

“They come down to water because they’re just burning up inside,” Kolbe said. “I’m hoping to find a still-live one to dispatch so we can get a definite confirmation. These are too far gone to get good blood or tissue.”

More than 100 whitetails have died in this area since the second week of September.

A virus that causes epizootic hemorrhagic disease is the most likely culprit. It’s spread by biting gnats or midges, and primarily affects only whitetail deer. A similar disease commonly known as “blue tongue” hits antelope and has damaged populations throughout eastern Montana
.

Mule deer, elk, antelope and bighorn sheep can also get EHD, but incidents are rare. Domestic cattle are generally not affected by either disease, although domestic sheep can be susceptible to blue tongue.

“I worked the Southside Road yesterday, and I was just floored by the level of mortality,” FWP biologist Vickie Edwards said. “They’re on gravel bars or floating in the river. In some places, you can really smell them. The ravens, golden eagles and bald eagles are having a heyday.”

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« Reply #347 on: September 21, 2013, 02:35:58 pm »

Having a hard time copying and pasting - about NJ Hatchery Destroying Fish to Control Disease.

http://www.myfoxphilly.com/story/23453172/nj-hatchery-destroying-fish-to-control-disease
9/17/13
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« Reply #348 on: September 21, 2013, 02:37:39 pm »

http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Terror+grips+Bhaktapur+folk+as+birds+drop+dead+&NewsID=391059
Terror grips Bhaktapur folk as birds drop dead
9/16/13

BHAKRTAPUR: Bird flu fear has gripped Bhaktapur people, again. The ominous signs started haunting the locals after crows and pigeons on flight dropped dead at Chnwaga Ganesh of Bhaktapur Municipality-17.

The Bhaktapur Bird Flu Control Section has asked locals to bury dead pigeons and crows well, without bothering to conduct avian influenza tests on the samples.

Who will be responsible if they catch ‘bird flu’ after burying the birds? This is the question local people like Tulasha Shrestha are asking.

Shrestha says the section’s instruction to locals — to bury the birds on their own — has terrified the locals further. According to Shrestha, a crow dropped dead in front of her house yesterday evening. She says pigeons have died in her neighbour Indrabhakta Rajlabat’s house.

Locals fear that bird flu will make inroads into Bhaktapur, again.

“When we contacted the District Livestock Office today, officials there asked us to bury the dead birds safely. This has scared us,” Shrestha says.

No one is ready to bury the birds fearing bird flu, according to the Bhaktapur local.

“If the person burying the birds catches bird flu, who will take responsibility?” asks Indra Bhakta Rajlabat, another local.

Khagendraraj Bhatta, chief at the livestock office, says his office has urged locals to bury the dead birds on their own as the office does not need to conduct bird flu tests in the crisis-hit zone.

According to Bhatta, there’s no need to panic as other factors may have killed the birds.

The government had declared Bhaktapur a bird flu crisis-hit zone on August 15. A stamping out operation meant to destroy birds and bird-related materials is on in the district, with 7,22,814 fowls and 2,75,997 chicks from 498 farms culled so far.

The operation has also destroyed 12,89,299 eggs and 50,806 kg chicken feed.
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« Reply #349 on: September 22, 2013, 04:30:15 am »

Wait, what? Bird flu from crows and pigeons? Since when? Is there some new strain that we don't know about? Uh, no. This is fear mongering on an ignorant population.

The real problem, if any, is with commercial chicken farms. Notice in their numbers, they make no mention of crows and pigeons. Chickens are the problem.
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« Reply #350 on: September 24, 2013, 03:45:38 pm »

http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/09/23/30-large-dolphins-beach-themselves-in-northeastern-brazil-7-die-news-reports/
9/23/13
30 large dolphins beach themselves in northeastern Brazil; 7 die, news reports say

RIO DE JANEIRO –  Around 30 large dolphins have beached themselves in northeastern Brazil.

The dolphins known as false killer whales ran aground on Sunday in Areia Branca, roughly halfway between the cities of Fortaleza and Natal.

Images distributed by the environmental police of Rio Grande do Norte state show beachgoers and passers-by attempting to aid the animals, which lay in shallow waters. Most were still, occasionally moving their tails, as beachgoers swabbed them with wet T-shirts.

O Globo newspaper reported Monday that at least seven on the animals have died.

The paper said it was not immediately known why the animals beached themselves, but biologists were examining whether the pod leader may have been ill.

O Globo says this is among the largest collective beachings in Brazil in recent decades.
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« Reply #351 on: September 24, 2013, 03:48:21 pm »

http://wtkr.com/2013/09/19/more-dead-dolphins-wash-up-in-hampton-roads/
9/19/13
More dead dolphins wash up in Hampton Roads

More dead dolphins were spotted around Hampton Roads this week.

One was found at False Cape State Park in Virginia Beach and another was found near 71st Street. One of the dolphins was badly decomposed officials say. A third dolphin was also found in Ocean View near 1st Street.

The Virginia Aquarium responded to two of the deceased dolphins.

The Aquarium’s Stranding Response Team has responded to over 300 deceased dolphins for the year. The average rate of annual recovery over the last decade has been 65.

“We were scared when that dolphin was up there. We didn’t know what it was. I looked for cuts on it because I’ve heard that they can get cut up by boats or something, so I looked for any incisions on it,” says Erika Mercer.

But experts say the hundreds of dead dolphins are not being killed by boats. They believe a virus is to blame.

It is called cetacean morbillivirus. It does not affect humans, but it does make dolphins sick which can cause other dangerous infections.

Experts say as the weather cools down, citizens will not see as many dolphins washing up in the area. They predict the problem will move south.
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« Reply #352 on: September 24, 2013, 03:54:12 pm »

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/7-500-songbirds-killed-at-canaport-gas-plant-in-saint-john-1.1857615

7,500 songbirds killed at Canaport gas plant in Saint John

Migrating birds, some possible endangered species, flew into gas flare


CBC News Posted: Sep 17, 2013 1:24 PM AT| Last Updated: Sep 18, 2013 7:48 AM AT

About 7,500 songbirds, possibly including some endangered species, were killed while flying over a gas plant in Saint John late last week, officials have confirmed.

It appears the migrating birds flew into the gas flare at Canaport LNG between Friday night and Saturday morning, said Fraser Forsythe, the company's health, safety, security and environmental manager.

The birds were drawn to the flame like moths, an extremely unusual event, according to Don McAlpine, the head of zoology at the New Brunswick Museum.

"They would circle in around that and of course with a large flame like that and high temperatures, they wouldn't need to get terribly close to become singed or burned."

The weather conditions were foggy and overcast at the time, which may have contributed to the incident, said McAlpine.

Not much is known about how such birds navigate at night, but officials believe they are attracted to light, particularly red or flashing lights, he said.

The flare tower at the Canaport liquefied natural gas receiving and regasification terminal is about 30 metres tall and the size of the flame varies, depending on weather conditions. It is typically higher amid low-pressure systems.

Flaring is part of the standard operation at the east side plant, located on Red Head Road, and is designed as a safety release system. It is used to maintain normal operating pressure by burning off small amounts of excess natural gas.

An estimated 6,800 birds were killed, while several hundred more were injured and had to be put down. "There were too many birds to count," said McAlpine.

"A crude estimate at this stage suggests about 7,500 birds died,"  he said. "There's certainly more than 5,000 and probably less than 10,000 birds affected."

McAlpine is still examining several hundred of the dead birds, which are being stored in a freezer, to try to identify their species.

There were a large number of red-eyed vireos, several types of warblers, including parula, black-and-white, magnolias and redstarts, as well as a few thrushes and rose-breasted grosbeaks, he said.

It's possible there may have also been some endangered species, such as the olive-sided flycatcher and Canada warbler, which are on the federal government's species at risk registry, said McAlpine.

"There are some flycatchers involved, but I haven't identified them yet. There's very few. Likewise with the Canada warbler, I haven't seen any yet, but it doesn't mean they're not there."

Many of the birds were badly burned, but some appeared completely unscathed, said McAlpine. He suspects they became disoriented and hit the tower or the ground, but several have been sent to the Atlantic Veterinary College in Prince Edward Island for necropsies to determine if there were any underlying conditions or external factors that may have contributed to the bird deaths.

The affected birds, which are mostly insect-eating, spend their summers in New Brunswick nesting and breeding before heading to Mexico, Central and South America for the winter, he said.

Staff 'reduced to tears'

Canaport LNG employees were devastated when they discovered the dead and injured birds piled up around the base of the plant's flame on Saturday morning, said Forsythe.

"We've got people that are pretty well reduced to tears here," he said.

"It has really struck home to our employees here and they've expressed a lot of remorse to me that this would happen. It's a very unexpected event," Forsythe said, adding it was the first incident of this type at the plant.

Cleanup efforts continued into Tuesday, said Forsythe.

Staff alerted the provincial Department of Environment, the Canadian Wildlife Service and the Atlantic Wildlife Institute in Sackville about the incident immediately, he said.

Barry Rothfuss, executive director of the Atlantic Wildlife Institute, said they are still busy dealing with the "carnage."

But they hope to be able to determine the cause and make recommendations to prevent a similar occurrence. "That's going to take some time," he said.

"I don't think it could have been necessarily perceived and accidents like this do happen and so it's a learning experience for all of us," Rothfuss added.

McAlpine said there is not a lot of information about bird mortalities involving flare towers.

"There's been a recognized need recently for further monitoring of this kind of thing," he said.

Still, McAlpine, said it's important to put the incident in perspective, noting an estimated one billion birds in the U.S. are killed every year from human causes.

"Although this is certainly a tragic event and it's shocking to see 7,500 dead birds, it’s a drop in the bucket in terms of the number of birds that are killed from human actions every year," said McAlpine.

The leading cause of death is birds flying into tall office buildings, while house cats rank third, he said.


Canaport LNG, owned by Repsol and Irving Oil Ltd., lists bird monitoring as among its environmental and reporting activities on its website.

Migratory birds have been considered in previous environmental impact assessments at the terminal.

In March 2012, Canaport LNG announced plans for a $43-million upgrade to make the facility more efficient and cut down on flaring.
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« Reply #353 on: September 30, 2013, 01:34:37 pm »

http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eluniversal.com.co%2Fcartagena%2Fmortandad-de-peces-en-laguna-de-chambacu-136327
Laguna fish kill Chambacú
 September 27, 2013 7:11 pm

Amazed some people come to see in the lagoon of hundreds of dead fish Chambacú.  Apparently, as the biologist said Public Establishment Environmental Cartagena (EPA) Gabriel Luna, l a situation appears to have started two days ago.

 The number of dead fish has not yet been posted but can be seen in other lakes such as St. Stephen and St. Lazarus, but there is more accumulation in Chambacú, because apparently spent the time to open the gate.

 It follows that in the mangroves have more dead fish due to the strong odor that is perceived by the industry.

 Hypothesis
 According to Moon, the species of fish are more Lisas calls about 10 inches big and the cause would be associated with a drop in oxygen by heavy rains in recent days.  Similarly habitat pollution with waste, can influence.
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« Reply #354 on: September 30, 2013, 01:38:34 pm »

http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nacion.com%2Fvivir%2Fambiente%2FVecinos-Gandoca-Manzanillo-Punta-Uva_0_1368263267.html
Neighbors warn Gandoca fish kill, Manzanillo and Punta Uva

 Ronny Jáen -  Updated on September 25, 2013 at: 10:49 a.m.

◾Also reported crabs, turtles and dolphins.

Residents of surrounding communities Gandoca, Manzanillo and Punta Uva warned of the appearance of dead fish on the beach, a situation that has been occurring for the past three weeks.

 In a journey made ​​today by a team of the Nation, it was found the presence of animals on the beach apart from fish, including crabs, turtles and dolphins.

 "For over a week we are seeing a lot of small fish dead on the beach, crabs and turtles, but do not know what's going on. No one has come to give us an answer," said Adelina Ponce, a resident of the community who Gandoca Beach cleans up with other women in the area.

 In addition, local fishermen report that this week have failed to catch anything.

 "About two weeks ago I picked up dead fish and brought them into Minae, but do not know who is to speak", said a fisherman who declined to give his name.

 In this regard, José Guillermo Masís - admnistrador the National Wildlife Refuge Gandoca Manzanillo said they received the alert on Tuesday of last week and immediately made an inspection where samples that are currently in the laboratory.

 "What I can say is that it is a single species of fish, reefs and abundant small. Still do not know whether this is due to the biology of the animal itself or due to external causes," said Masis.

 Although not ruled causes pollution seems unlikely because the fish were found far from the river mouths and the Caribbean is entering its dry season so there is little rain, it is a single species of fish and other animals are preying on the dead animals.  "However, the precautionary principle, not yet ruling out any cause," he said Masis.

 With respect to the dolphins and turtles, Masís considered that there is no correlation between them and the fish due to the time factor.  The death of dolphins and turtles precedes the fish.
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« Reply #355 on: September 30, 2013, 02:25:34 pm »

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« Reply #356 on: October 01, 2013, 09:01:24 pm »

http://news.msn.com/science-technology/10000-walrus-come-ashore-in-northwest-alaska
10/1/13
10,000 walrus come ashore in northwest Alaska

The gathering of walrus on shore is a phenomenon that has accompanied the loss of summer sea ice as the climate has warmed.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — An estimated 10,000 walrus unable to find sea ice over shallow Arctic Ocean water have come ashore on Alaska's northwest coast.

Scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Friday photographed walrus packed onto a beach on a barrier island near Point Lay, an Inupiat Eskimo village 300 miles southwest of Barrow and 700 miles northwest of Anchorage.

The walrus have been coming to shore since mid-September. The large herd was spotted during NOAA's annual arctic marine mammal aerial survey, an effort conducted with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the agency that conducts offshore lease sales.

An estimated 2,000 to 4,000 walrus were photographed at the site Sept. 12. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the agency that manages walrus, immediately took steps to prevent a stampede among the animals packed shoulder to shoulder on the rocky coastline. The agency works with villages to keep people and airplanes a safe distance from herds.

Young animals are especially vulnerable to stampedes triggered by a polar bear, a human hunter or a low-flying airplane. The carcasses of more than 130 mostly young walruses were counted after a stampede in September 2009 at Alaska's Icy Cape.

Related: Keystone species' loss could cause ecosystem to collapse

The gathering of walrus on shore is a phenomenon that has accompanied the loss of summer sea ice as the climate has warmed.

Pacific walrus spend winters in the Bering Sea. Females give birth on sea ice and use ice as a diving platform to reach snails, clams and worms on the shallow continental shelf.

As temperatures warm in summer, the edge of the sea ice recedes north. Females and their young ride the edge of the sea ice into the Chukchi Sea. However, in recent years, sea ice has receded north beyond continental shelf waters and into Arctic Ocean water 10,000 feet deep or more where walrus cannot dive to the bottom.

Walrus in large numbers were first spotted on the U.S. side of the Chukchi Sea in 2007. They returned in 2009, and in 2011, scientists estimated 30,000 walruses along one kilometer of beach near Point Lay.

Remnant ice kept walrus offshore in 2008 and again last year.

The goal of the marine mammals survey is to record the abundance of bowhead, gray, minke, fin and beluga whales plus other marine mammals in areas of potential oil and natural gas development, said NOAA Fisheries marine mammal scientist Megan Ferguson in an announcement.

"In addition to photographing the walrus haulout area, NOAA scientists documented more bowhead whales, including calves and feeding adults in the Beaufort Sea this summer compared to 2012," said Ferguson. "We are also seeing more gray whale calves in the Chukchi Sea than we have in recent years."

Environmental groups say the loss of sea ice due to climate warming is harming marine mammals and oil and gas development would add to their stress.
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« Reply #357 on: October 08, 2013, 07:35:55 am »

Starfish Deaths Are a Mystery

British Columbia, Canada waters are becoming engorged with lifeless starfish and investigators do not have any idea what is causing them to parish. These starfish deaths are a complete mystery.
 
A noted scuba diver and marine biologist, Jonathan Martin, from Toronto, went out on his normal dive this past Saturday morning along with a group of friends when he saw something strange in the water. The divers accompanying him started to see numerous dead starfish that appeared to look like they had had their arms cut off. The divers realized they had a mystery on their hands: the deaths of all these starfish.
 
The starfish were a certain kind known as sunflower starfish. Their scientific name is Pycnopodia Helianthoides. They are big marine scavengers located in the area which eat mainly snails and sea urchins. Like the majority of starfish, the sunflower type is able to regrow any lost limbs. They might have up to 20 limbs that can grow to reach three to four feet.
 
Martin and his friends were all diving in a location which was visited very often by crabbers, so in the beginning he believed the sunflower starfish had perhaps gotten trapped in some of the crab harnesses and then lost limbs trying to escape. Yet he continued to see large numbers of dead starfish as did his friends, and he dove a second time around a marina where crab fishing was prohibited. That was when the diver realized it was not the crab traps that were killing the starfish.
 
When he came back from his dive, Martin went to see some individuals at a local dive shop who were vigorous in working for marine conservation. Without any conclusive answer, he put up photographs on various social websites; photos that were taken at the marine park where he found most of the dead starfish, in hopes of trying to get any sort of answer from other people about what might possibly be happening. He stated that his pictures seemed to make other divers really take notice. He said that divers which lived near to him and also around the world told him they had been seeing things that were similar in nature.
 
Yet he still did not get any definite answers, so Martin sent a letter to a researcher who worked as an invertebrate expert at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. He told the researcher what he had seen and how the arms of the starfish had just seemed to crumble. He also said how death appeared to happen rapidly, and decomposition was happening to the starfish arms. These were seen still hanging on to rocks and pieces of skin were split open in an odd fashion
 
He also said that single starfish in the past had shown up appearing like this, but never had he seen so many in this amount of time. Martin explained about his first dive with friends and what they thought was the cause. Yet when they went to the second diving place and discovered that area did not allow for crab fishing, they knew their first hypnosis had been wrong.
 
The researcher had no answers for Martin but is starting an investigation into the matter. As for now, the starfish deaths will continue to be a mystery.

http://guardianlv.com/2013/10/starfish-deaths-are-a-mystery/
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« Reply #358 on: October 08, 2013, 08:06:16 pm »

http://www.kgw.com/news/local/Die-off-of-Oregon-swallows-blamed-on-foul-weather-226224711.html
Die-off of Ore. swallows blamed on weather
10/2/13

SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- Oregon scientists say thousands of swallows died during recent Willamette Valley rains, likely of starvation because the birds feed on insects while flying and they couldn't get out in the weather to feed.

Veterinarians said four days of steady rain and wind helped make September the wettest on record in the Valley. They came at a time when birds would have been feeding in preparation for winter migration to Central and South America.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife says it got calls about dead and dying birds from residents ranging from the Port of Saint Helens on the Columbia River to Junction City north of Eugene.

Groups of 10 to 200 barn and violet-green swallows were reported dead or dying in barns and other structures where they perch.
 
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« Reply #359 on: October 08, 2013, 08:11:47 pm »

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/dolphin-die-nearing-record-high-shutdown-puts-investigation-ice-8C11330567
10/3/13
As dolphin die-off nears record high, shutdown puts investigation on ice

The viral epidemic that's killing off mid-Atlantic bottlenose dolphins is entering its fourth month and there is no slow down in sight. The body count has crossed 600, and this "unusual mortality event" is set to upstage the last major dolphin die-off — one in 1987 and 1988 that killed some 700 bottlenoses — as the worst die-off yet.

Now, the government shutdown is threatening to stall the investigation of the event, leaving research centers with freezers full of dead dolphins and not enough scientists to study them.

"If this [shutdown] runs into weeks and longer, we're talking about significant impacts to our ability to investigate this mortality event," Mark Swingle, director of research and conservation at the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, told NBC News.

The dolphins are migrating south, and Virginia, the hardest hit state, seems to be past the worst of it: only 80 strandings in September, down from 172 dolphins in August. But the pace is "still demanding," Swingle said. The center relied heavily on volunteer responders and researchers, some of who have been furloughed because of the shutdown.

When a dolphin stricken by the morbillivirus is beached, staff members and volunteers drive carcasses from the shore to the lab, then conduct necropsies and collect samples to send along to other labs for testing — a task than can take up to seven hours. "If you remove people from any of those points, we're going to slow down," Swingle said.

While there may not be a cure for the epidemic, there's a window of opportunity to search for its causes, and whether any human behavior could have triggered it, or is making it worse.

Skeleton crews remaining at the center will continue to process new arrivals, and are stashing dolphins that they won't get to within 24 hours in a walk-in freezer. "We're getting in so many animals, and these animals are big," Swingle said. Mounting backlog means they'll run out of space in their walk-in freezer in about two weeks, which means valuable evidence from newly beached dolphins may be lost.

Conducting necropsies and salvaging slices of tissue is just the first step. Those samples are sent across the country for a battery of pathology and genetic tests. NOAA researchers are in charge of coordinating that exchange, but furloughs have brought that operation to a standstill. Tissue samples, like whole dolphins, will also be iced.

Meanwhile the effort itself is running on fumes. After dealing with 25 times the monthly strandings in August alone, the center has blown through the annual $100,000 in federal funding budgeted for marine mammal strandings, part of the national John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program. Swingle has applied for $60,000 in emergency funds to cover the bills through the rest of the season, but that's being evaluated by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. He expects that the shutdown will slow down that approval.

And there are bigger problems on the horizon. President Obama's proposed FY2013 budget makes no mention of the Prescott program, eliminating federal funding for marine mammal rescue for the first time in 13 years. Which leaves organizations like the Virginia Aquarium looking for private funding to make up the 20 percent of their annual budget that would be lost if Prescott is cut. "We don't have any other sources of government support," Swingle said. "This was it."
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