Experts Trying To Determine What Killed Thousands Of Birds & Fish In Arkansas

Experts in Arkansas are trying to figure out what caused thousands of blackbirds to fall out of the sky New Year’s Eve. They’re also working to determine why approximately 100,000 fish turned up dead a day earlier.

Workers clad in environmental protection suits finished picking up the carcasses of approximately 3,000 red-winged blackbirds Sunday. The creatures fell from the sky in an area about 1.5 kilometres long on New Year’s Eve.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has sent the birds to a lab for analysis. Officials expect the results back in about a week. Spokesman Keith Stephens speculates the creatures could’ve been hit by high-altitude hail, by lightning or they may have been startled by fireworks.

On Thursday, tens of thousands of drum fish turned up dead in the Arkansas River. The fish were reportedly found across 32km stretch. Water contamination has reportedly been ruled out because only one species died.

The site of the dead fish is about 200km away from where the birds died.

With files from the Associated Press.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today