Wildlife officials warn Rhode Islanders of dead birds on shoreline

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Wildlife officials warn the public of an increase of dead waterbirds washing up on the shoreline in Rhode Island.

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and other officials are cautioning the public to keep an eye out to avoid any dead birds. They said Block Island have experienced many recent mortalities.

DEM said the cause of these recent dead waterbirds (gulls, cormorants, shearwaters, terns, seabirds, shorebirds) is unknown at this time. However, typically past seabirds deaths have been attributed to lack of resources like fish.

“People with poultry/backyard flocks should disinfect shoes/boots before visiting beaches, parks, and refuges,” read in a Facebook post.

While officials said the risk of an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza is low, they still urge people to stay away. They urge people walking their pet to keep them on a leash and not touch the dead carcasses.

For more information, you can visit their website.