An outbreak of avian influenza at Crescent Duck Farm in Aquebogue has forced the farm to cease operations and begin to euthanize its entire flock, jeopardizing the future of Long Island’s last remaining duck farm.
The presence of the virus, which is highly contagious and deadly among domestic poultry, was confirmed by lab tests late Thursday, Crescent Duck Farm President Doug Corwin said in an interview this morning.
The farm began euthanizing its inventory, which Corwin said numbered just over 99,000 birds, over the weekend. The culling process is ongoing, with officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on-site. A quarantine is in place, with strict biosecurity measures in place, including restricted access, to ensure that the virus remains contained, Corwin said.