USDA wildlife biologist Ricky Woods explained that a large group of starlings was causing problems in a north Nebraska cattle feedlot, eating the feed and leaving waste on both the feed and equipment. So the USDA put out DRC 1339 poison for the birds, Woods said.
"Lethal means are always a last resort," said Woods. "In this situation it's what we had to do."
Woods said most of the birds died near the site of the feed lot, but about 200 were strong enough to fly about 10 miles north to Yankton, where they died, puzzling some local residents. He could not say how many birds died altogether.
Woods said putting out poison for birds is not common, but sometimes is necessary. "It depends on the situation," he said. He said the poison would not harm another animal which ate one of the birds, such as a cat or a hawk.
South Dakota Hundreds of Dead Birds
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