An unusual neurologic disease has caused the deaths of at least 69 bald eagles, an unknown number of coots and a small number of waterfowl wintering in 4 southern states.
Affected birds have a very uncoordinated flight and appear intoxicated.
USGS National Wildlife Health Center scientists described the disease, which had never before been documented in wildlife. It is believed that a man-made or naturally occurring toxin is the most probable cause of this disease. However, tests for a wide range of toxins including those previously associated with vacuolar myelinopathy in other species have been unsuccessful. This time, at least 26 eagles died and American coots were also affected. Affected coots were first found outside of Arkansas in 1998 on lakes in Georgia and North Carolina.