ALBANY -- State environmental officials are warning citizens not to feed waterfowl after a dozen Canada geese were found sick or dead on a northern New York pond.

The sick geese found in Clinton County were disoriented and unable to fly, and are expected to die. Tests determined the dead geese were infected with Aspergillosis, a fungus that grows in the birds' lungs and air sacs. It causes respiratory distress and eventual suffocation.

Birds pick up the fungus by eating moldy grain, such as bread or livestock feed. The fungus can cause large-scale die-offs in waterfowl, but it's not contagious and poses no risk to humans.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation is also asking the public to report any diseased and dead birds to the DEC.

On the Net:

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, http://www.dec.ny.gov