Investigators Puzzled By Mysterious Dove Deaths

Dove season began September 1st, but this year it began with dove deaths that had nothing to do with hunting. State and Federal Wildlife officials are investigating strange reports of dove deaths coming from around the area including Midland, Odessa and Big Spring.Authorities say they haven't found any evidence of toxins that pose a risk to humans from the samples they have examined:

Saturday, September 1, 2012
According to the USGS National Wildlife Health Center, toxicology analyses of dove samples revealed no evidence of toxins that could pose human health risks. Additional tests are underway to determine the cause of this mortality and until those results become available hunters should continue to take standard precautions when handling and cooking game.

Hunters are urged to use common sense and avoid eating any bird that appears infected or diseased and avoid shooting birds acting abnormally.