Calm Lake Drive residents have been noticing something strange at the lake behind their homes. “Well about two or three months ago I noticed one or two dead Canada geese just kind of floating on the lake. And then I didn’t think too much of it and then it seemed like as time went by a few weeks there were more and more,” said Paul Kleinstuber. Kleinstuber says about 30 dead geese were found on or around the lake. Kleinstuber says he called the Department of Environmental Conservation for answers. “Since we live here I don’t know if there’s a problem with toxicity in the water, I don’t know if its anything like a bird disease that could spread, I'd like to know what the problem is if its may be somebody in the area poisoning them,” said Kleinstuber. DEC officials say three geese were sent out for testing. Two were sent to Utica and one to Syracuse. Tests determined one was found to have died from lead poisoning, a second from rat poison, and a third from an unknown virus. DEC officials believe the lead poisoning may have come from birdshot or a sinker, the rat poison likely from a farm where the geese fed, and a sample of the virus has been sent out for testing. Meantime Kleinstuber waits, watches and wonders. . “I guess the biggest concern is if it's a disease and if they find out it is, is it something that could effect humans so that's probably my real concern,” asked Kleinstuber. DEC officials tell News Eight that their investigators do not believe tests for contaminates in the water are necessary. They also say any virus that killed the goose is not likely transmittable to humans or pets.
