82 dead bats, birds found in shipment stopped in Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A shipment containing dead bats and dead birds was intercepted in Louisville last week.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agriculture specialists stopped the shipment at the Louisville Port of Entry Friday, Nov. 1.

Investigators said 41 dead bats and 41 dead birds were found inside a shipment labeled "Yam Flour Sponge."

The shipment from Nigeria was heading to a home in West Palm Beach Florida. Wildlife officials identified the bats as Straw Colored Fruit Bats and Village Weavers.

"CBP's agriculture specialists mitigate the threat of non-native pests, diseases, and contaminants entering the United States," Philip Onken, Louisville port director, said in a news release. "CBP agriculture specialists have extensive training and experience in the biological sciences and agriculture inspections, inspecting tens of thousands of international passengers and cargo shipments at our air, land and sea ports of entry."

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ordered the shipment to be destroyed. Officials said bats are known carriers of infectious agents like Ebola and rabies.

Dead birds have the potential for carrying diseases like Newcastle disease and the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.

Leaders said the seizures demonstrate the critical role of Louisville's CBP agriculture specialists in preventing diseases from entering the US.

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