Steve Litwhiler, a spokesperson for the D.E.C., says in certain oxygen free situations, zebra mussels are known to create a botulism toxin. Also, an exotic fish known as a round gobies, feasts on the zebra mussels. The dead birds were found to have round gobies in their stomachs.

"If the zebra mussel is eaten by a round gobies, and the round gobies is eaten by a fish eating bird, the toxin could very well kill the bird," says Steve Litwhiler, "It is a very possible pathway, but it is circumstantial evidence."

They have not had a chance to check out the zebra mussel beds in the lake to know for sure they are the culprits.

Karen Lago, of Save The River, says her group believes the birds did in deed die from eating round gobies and or zebra mussels infected with the toxin. Lago says the invasive species will cause more problems if they are not kept out of the St. Lawrence Seaway and Lake Ontario.

Save The River would like to see additional testing done on commercial ships to prevent the creatures from invading the waters.

During the first week of August, two dead birds were found on the St. Lawrence River shore in the Town of Cape Vincent. Both of the birds tested positive for Type E Botulism. Additional birds - Caspian terns, Double-crested cormorants and a Herring gull collected from Little Galloo Island in the eastern basin of Lake Ontario on August 9th were also confirmed stricken with the disease.

DEC is continuing to gather sick and dead birds and fish to check for botulism or other diseases.