After consulting several wildlife biologists, local Humane Society officials said Monday that botulism caused the deaths and sickness among ducks at Capaha Park last week.

Jahn White, administrator of the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri, said the bacterial disease could have been transmitted to the ducks when they ate dead fish in the Capaha Park lagoon. The fish, she said, were dying because of excessive algae growth in the lagoon.

"The biologists that I spoke with recommended that the city drain the lake and put some fresh water in there," said White.

White said park officials should also "clean all the (duck) eggs off of the island, take new steps to control algae growth and clean out the dead fish" in order to prevent the spread or reappearance of botulism among the ducks.

At least five ducks were found dead last week at the lagoon and another five sickly ducks were brought to the Humane Society.

"The ducks that were admitted to the Humane Society last week are going to make it and they're doing fine," she said.

Mark Sullivan, park supervisor with the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department, said the duck problem "appears like it's cleared up" and that the park lagoon just needs some rainfall to get fresh water circulating again.

Sullivan has found no more sick ducks since Friday and does not plan to drain the lagoon. He will, however, on White's recommendation, remove all duck eggs from the island.

White said that the risk of transmitting the disease to humans or even pets that might come near the water is minimal.