Control of a Fowl Cholera Outbreak among Coots in Virginia

In February, 1975, an outbreak of fowl cholera caused the death of 18,000 wild waterfowl, primarily American coots (Fulica americana), at Back Bay, Virginia. To arrest the epornitic, coots were treated with aerial application of a wetting agent, rendered flightless, collected from the water, and humanely destroyed. Over 6,000 coots were depopulated. Pertinent field observations are described for this control endeavor.