Is there a duck poisoner at large in Los Angeles? Dozens of dead birds wash up on shores

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Unfortunately, it looks like someone has been poisoning the ducks, I think, because they are dying slow.” Mr Garcia also said he noticed a goose protecting a dying duck by hovering around it. “I usually come running here around the lake and, you know, sometimes you’ll see birds, but there’s just any number of them, like at least 15 or so just washed up on the shore,” said one woman, another visitor of Hollenbeck Park. open image in gallery A goose has been protecting the bodies of the dead ducks in Hollenbeck Park Howie Berkowitz, founder of the Duck Pond of Lake Elsinore, said that other issues could be causing the ducks to fall ill and die. open image in gallery Experts suspect that the ducks could be dying of avian botulism, an illness that could have serious impacts on local wildlife Another suspected issue is that the park ducks may be subject to a deadly illness called avian botulism, where a duck has ingested lethal bacteria and dies.