Luxembourg's Nature and Forest Agency has confirmed that it received reports of dead / dying crows in Bettembourg on Wednesday 15 May 2024.
The birds (about 20 in total, according to the municipality of Bettembourg) were found dead or dying in the public park in Bettembourg.
The municipality said on social media that it suspected "possible poisoning", and issued the following recommendations to the public: supervise your children and keep dogs on a leash at all times; avoid touching dead animals; report any unusual activitiy to the police (tel.: 113).
The Nature and Forest Agency reported that the rook carcasses were brought to the veterinary laboratory (Laboratoire de médecine vétérinaire) to determine the cause of death. Depending on the results, samples will be sent to the National Health Laboratory (Laboratoire national de santé) for analysis. Sick or dying birds were taken to the wildlife rescue centre (Centre de soins pour la faune sauvage).
The Nature and Forest Agency recalled that similar cases were observed in 2022 and 2023, during the same season and in the same region. These cases gave rise to pathological examinations and analyses, as well as an exchange between the The Nature and Forest Agency, the Administration of Technical Agricultural Services, the Luxembourg Veterinary and Food Administration, the Environment Agency, the ornithological centre (Centrale Ornithologique) and the municipalities concerned.
The administration added that these examinations and analyses have made it possible to rule out diseases in past years. Whilst no toxic substance could be identified, suspicion of voluntary or involuntary poisoning was maintained.
