Ducks are still dying or growing sick from a likely botulism outbreak in Laguna Niguel, and the survivors continue to stream into a wildlife care center in Huntington Beach, county and bird rescue officials said Thursday.

About 40 sick birds, mostly mallards, are being treated at the Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center, said Debbie McGuire, the center’s wildlife director. Meanwhile, a few carcasses of dead ducks along with sick ducks are being collected daily at Laguna Niguel Regional Park, where an apparent outbreak of avian botulism began around Aug. 5.

“The good news is, some of the first ones that came in are well enough to be outside, and are eating on their own,” McGuire said. “So we should be able to release them early next week.”

Avian botulism often appears in lakes and other bodies of water during summer; the bacteria that produce the botulism toxin are helped along by rotting organic material, heat, and water that is low in oxygen and poor in circulation.

The toxin poses little threat to people, who acquire botulism poisoning from a different bacterial strain, McGuire said.

While most of the affected birds are mallards, the care center has also received two American coots, a snowy egret and two blue-winged teals, although the teals did not survive.

Most of the birds brought to the center are surviving, McGuire said, due in part to a botulism anti-toxin being given to the birds.

Roughly 40 carcasses have been collected from the park, which is a popular fishing spot, said Marisa O’Neil, spokeswoman for OC Parks. A recent test showed no water quality problems, she said, although McGuire said she did not believe botulism toxin would show up in a water test.

McGuire made a plea for donations from the public to help pay for care of the birds; anyone interested can call the center at 714-374-5587 or mail donations to the Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center, 21900 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, 92646.

(Register photo of mallard being treated at care center by Jebb Harris.)

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