TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Hernando Today

Birds May Be Culprit Of Pine Island Bacteria

ADVERTISEMENT

By TONY MARRERO Hernando Today

Published: February 21, 2008

PINE ISLAND - An abundance of birds may be to blame for this week's warning to stay out of the water at the popular county park here, health officials say.

The Hernando County Health Department posted a swimming advisory Monday for Pine Island Beach after tests revealed high bacteria levels in the water.

Coliform bacteria are organisms that are present in the environment and in the feces of all warm-blooded animals and humans.

The high counts at Pine Island could be the fault of our feathered friends who flock to the area like humans on a hot summer day, said Al Gray, environmental manager at the health department.

All kinds of birdlife, from seagulls to terns, flock to the island. The birds congregate - and defecate - on the beach, especially during low tide, Gray said.

"When high tide comes in, the bird feces gets in the water," Gray said.

The health department won't be able to confirm that theory, though.

The general water quality test that the health department uses does not pinpoint the source of the bacteria. There are tests that do so, but they can cost as much as $450 or more per sample, Gray said.

"We don't have the funding to do that kind of testing," he said.

When it comes to the potential health effects, however, the source doesn't much matter.

Ears and throats inundated with bacteria-laden water are prime candidates for infection, Gray said. Swimmers who ingest the water are at risk for gastrointestinal illness, with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

The very young, the elderly and others with weak immune systems are at higher risk of serious health problems, Gray said.

Water quality at Pine Island is usually "very good," said Gray. It's been some 18 months or so since test results forced officials to post a similar advisory there.

Officials will continue to test the water every couple of days and announce when the bacteria levels have dropped to make it safe enough to swim.

Rogers Park, on the Weekiwachee River, has been closed over the years for high bacteria counts. In October, officials also closed the swimming area at Linda Pedersen Park, a few miles south on Shoal Line Boulevard, though that is a rarer occurrence.

Officials suspected animal waste in those cases, too, though in those instances raccoons, deer and other critters that inhabit the woods and marshy areas near those parks were the likely culprits.

Gray said he is hopeful that chances of people getting ill at Pine Island are smaller now because, due to chilly water temperatures, "nobody is putting their head under water this time of year anyway."

"I took samples out there a few weeks ago with waders on and it was cold," he said.

Reporter Tony Marrero can be reached at 352-544-5286 or lmarrero@hernandotoday.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT