- Dates
- 2007-10 – 2008-11
- Kind
- Conservation
- Where
- Beaver Island
- Eras
- Modern era
- Concepts
- animalsbiologyconservationenvironmentwildlifestewardshipcommunication
- Within
- Beaver Island
Summary
The March 2008 Beaver Beacon described a reported fall 2007 waterfowl die-off along northern Lake Michigan, estimated at about 8,000 birds, including about 2,000 loons. It presented type E botulism as a possible mechanism involving decaying cladophora and infected gobies, then published guidance to use gloves, double-bag carcasses for the Transfer Station or bury them away from water, and avoid eating raw Lake Michigan fish. The article also described planned DNR, Sea Grant, Sleeping Bear, and shoreline-owner monitoring, with a possible recurrence in October or November 2008.
Evidence limits
The counts and causal explanation are preserved as newspaper-reported and approximate. This record is not a wildlife-survey dataset, laboratory finding, official disposal protocol, or confirmation that the projected recurrence occurred. The article also leaves the status of Beaver Island’s estimated five to seven breeding loon pairs unresolved.
Sources
- Beaver Beacon, March 2008, "Dear Shoreline Property Owners" and "Dealing with the Waterfowl Mortality Along the Beaches".Reports an approximate northern Lake Michigan mortality of 8,000 birds, including about 2,000 loons; discusses possible type E botulism associated with cladophora and gobies; gives carcass-handling guidance; and describes planned DNR, Sea Grant, Sleeping Bear, and shoreline-volunteer coordination. No public copy of this file is known; the archive holds one and can provide it on request.data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 2008-03_Beaver-Beacon
- The held March issue scan confirms the mortality report and response guidance.data1 · beaver-island-archive · scans · beaver_beacon · issues · 2008-03_Beaver-Beacon
Added 5 August 2026. Recent changes
Cite this article
Beaver Island Archive, “Beaver Island shoreline response is planned after the 2007 Lake Michigan waterfowl mortality, 2008”, https://beaverislandarchive.org/events/beaver-island-waterfowl-mortality-response-2008/, accessed [date], citing Beaver Beacon, March 2008, "Dear Shoreline Property Owners" and "Dealing with the Waterfowl Mortality Along the Beaches". (and 1 further source listed on the page).
Last revised 2026-08-05. Fill in [date] with the date you read it — this page is static and cannot know that.
BibTeX for “Beaver Island shoreline response is planned after the 2007 Lake Michigan waterfowl mortality, 2008”RIS for “Beaver Island shoreline response is planned after the 2007 Lake Michigan waterfowl mortality, 2008”