Birds Dying By The Hundreds Near Detroit Waste Plant

A site near a wastewater treatment plant in Detroit came under investigation by state regulators because it is littered with dead birds.

“With hundreds of screeching seagulls hovering above and rotting bird carcasses littering the streets, the scene near Zug Island and the wastewater treatment plant in Southwest Detroit seems straight out of an apocalyptic horror movie,” Michigan Live reported.

“The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says the ring-billed gulls have chosen an area near the Wastewater Treatment Plant to nest, just off the Detroit River, so a larger number of the birds are in the area compared to previous years — about 10,000 compared to 5,000,” CBS Detroit reported.

Residents reported the bird die-off to the department, according to Michigan Live. Some sources said they had seen upwards of 100 dead seagulls.

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) visited the property to collect bird samples and investigate the cause of death, according to the Detroit Free Press.

“The DNR has ruled out any type of diseases, such as avian botulism, West Nile virus, avian influenza, pesticides and metals toxicity. Tissues were also submitted for microscope examination. While most of these tests are relatively quick, final results could take weeks,” WWJ reported.

The DNR was able to pinpoint a few causes of death.

“The preliminary findings show some of them died because of dehydration, others died because of the cars. They say that most of estimated 300 or so dead gulls are less than 1 year old. The DNR does not believe that these birds pose any environmental hazard,” Fox 2 Detroit reported.