Overview
- Responders and volunteers found and recovered 17 dead waterbirds and rescued several weakened live birds at Rotter See following searches on July 17 and 18.
- Local fire crews, the DLRG lifeguards, the city public-order office and volunteer group Team für Tiere coordinated recovery and rescue efforts and sent live birds to regional wildlife shelters for treatment.
- The city has cordoned the beach and shore, issued a no-bathing advisory and urged people not to touch carcasses or let dogs approach the water until authorities finish testing.
- Veterinary authorities and the city collected water samples and are investigating causes; responders suspect botulism but the hypothesis remains unconfirmed pending lab results.
- Botulism can form when warm, oxygen-poor water and decaying organic matter let Clostridium botulinum produce neurotoxin, so officials say test results and any required remediation will determine how long restrictions remain in place.