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What killed the Canada geese by the storm water wetland/oxbow?

Three dead geese found 3/10 with a long oil slick and either algae or fecal matter by carcasses at the oxbow entry at Little River. City of Cambridge is investigating cause. Poison and contamination can spread is the concern of Friends of Alewife Reservation.

Hopefully, this was natural predation, but we do not know, and need to, as animals can spread poison, E-coli or kerosene poisoning. It could have also been a weapon.

Please check on the 3 dead geese. Kathy, I and Nellie agree that we need an autopsy. Just below oxbow lookout, the geese mangled also look poisoned in some way. Large piece of white styrofoam next to one of the geese. Very bloated. Can you get an autopsy?

We do not want other animals eating something that could spread in their spring families.

Surrounding them in the water is a substantial oil slick (was yesterday) and looks like fecal matter.

You all, I am sure will need to know the source of this.

Glad to be able to report it now to you. This morning when I checked it out, I noticed the waste material (unlikely algae). I will leave it to you all as to who else should be notified about this.

I know that DCR would only remove them. But we do not want that until you have checked as to the killing source.

Bruno Carderelli, engineer at Kleinfelder Co. holds one of three dead Canada geese, whose cause of death remains uncertain.
dead geese at edge of water

The following photos were taken by Kathy Johnson.
dead geese at edge of water


dead geese at edge of water


dead geese at edge of water


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The Alewife Reservation is a unique natural resource for the communities of Belmont, Arlington and Cambridge and home to hundreds of species, including hawks, coyotes beavers, snapping turtles, wild turkeys and muskrats, the reservation is a unique natural resource for the community.
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