USGS Frequently Asked Questions

Answer:

Birds: Information on Salton Sea bird die-offs can be found through the USGS National Wildlife Health Center Web site at http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/. Information has been issued by the center through their Quarterly Wildlife Mortality Report.

Fish: There are several species of Tilapia in the Salton Sea. By far, the most abundant is Tilapia mossambica. This fish was accidentally introduced by nearby fish-rearing facilities in the 1960s, and it has proliferated as the salinity has increased. This is the species that now comprises the majority of fish involved in massive die-offs and is suspected of having a role in the deaths of fish-eating birds from avian botulism.

Another good information resource is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge Web page. You can also download the document "Saving the Salton Sea" at their Web site at http://pacific.fws.gov/refuges/salton.pdf.