Fuel, Oil Spill Kills Winona Lake Birds

Conservations officers say melted, contaminated snow has killed approximately 25 birds in Winona Lake. According to a news release, a mixture of melted snow, motor oil and diesel fuel flowed from a parking lot at Dalton Foundries, into a storm sewer and then into the lake, where it killed the birds. Waste water treatment workers discovered the fuel and oil spill yesterday afternoon. They immediately installed oil-absorbing booms to keep any additional contaminants from entering Winona Lake. State officials called in a spill recovery team to clean up the diesel fuel and motor oil. Conservation officers say coots, Canada Geese, and ducks died of hypothermia when the fuel and oil matted their down feathers, making it impossible for them to stay warm.