POCATELLO — Twenty-eight birds were recently found dead in Pocatello, but authorities aren’t sure what killed them. 

Mary Remer, director of the Pocatello Animal Shelter, said the starlings were found about 30 yards west of the railroad tracks near the 200 block of W. Alameda on Thursday. 

“We couldn’t tell what killed them,” Remer said, adding that the responding officer searched the area for seeds, rice or other foods that could have caused their deaths, but didn’t find anything. The birds didn’t have any wounds either. 

“It’s weird to have that many pile up without any explanation,” Remer said, adding that they typically only find two or three birds that have died when they respond to a situation like this. 

Remer said they aren’t doing any further investigation at this point, but will take another look at the issue if they find any more large groups of birds that have died. Still, if anyone has information about the starlings that were found on Thursday, they are encouraged to call the Pocatello Animal Shelter at 234-6157.

“If they have any explanation, I would be interested to know,” Remer said. “It is strange.”