Did ducks at a Buffalo Grove pond die of botulism? Village working with state to find out
Buffalo Grove officials said the village is aware of reports of dead ducks in Pritchett Pond near Pritchett Elementary School, as well as concerns about avian botulism.
The village is working with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Lake County's Ecological Services Program on the matter, according to a statement issued by the village.
IDNR officials told the village it received initial reports of dead waterfowl in mid-August and conducted a site visit confirming 15-20 mallard duck carcasses and several dozen live birds around the pond. Several carcasses were collected and submitted to the National Wildlife Health Center for botulism testing, though tissue quality proved insufficient for testing.
Additional reports of dead ducks surfaced early this month. While an IDNR official heard birds showing clinical botulism signs were taken to a rehabilitation facility where infection may have been confirmed, the agency said future testing would require access to dying rather than dead birds.
The outbreak has area residents concerned.
Kevin Dryman first noticed a dead duck in the pond Aug. 17. The next day, he found more than 10 carcasses and called Buffalo Grove police, suspecting poisoning. A community service officer responded and photographed one of the inlets to the pond and what appeared to be a black stream flowing into the water.
Dryman contacted IDNR Aug. 19 to collect the dead ducks for testing. He and his wife rescued two sick ducks, taking them to Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation in Barrington.
The center confirmed botulism as the cause of death in dead ducks that had been brought there, Dryman said.
On Aug. 21, he called the village’s public works department after finding another dead duck.
“They sent someone out, collected the dead duck, and left,” he said.
Then last weekend, Dryman rescued another sick duck that later died at Flint Creek.
Dryman said he wants to see some action.
“I understand that you can't test the water for avian botulism, but you can still test the water for other variants of botulism.
“Kids fish in the pond, then they throw the fish back, and then they eat their snacks,” Dryman said. “And if it's not a form that can be spread to humans, it is still a form of botulism that can still be spread to people's pets.”
Other residents have expressed concerns as well.
At Monday’s village board meeting, Deputy Village Manager Mike Skibbe confirmed crews have investigated the site, but it’s unclear if water was actually tested.
“Public works has been out there to investigate the pond, take a look at water quality, and does not see any signs of any illicit discharges or any other water quality issues that we would normally respond to,” he said.