The D-N-R is asking Minnesotans to let them know if they find two or more dead loons on a single lake with no obvious cause of death. Gaea Crozier in Grand Rapids says they’re getting quite a few more reports than normal of dead loons in central Saint Louis County — and tests confirmed that three had West Nile Virus. “Loons are actually quite susceptible to West Nile, so it seems like we potentially are having a small outbreak of West Nile virus that’s causing some loon deaths,” she says.
Crozier says loon deaths from West Nile can’t be avoided — but the D-N-R would like to know in case it’s something else that *can* be prevented.