A dead duck was seen in the Reflecting Pool. Then two more were found nearby. - The Washington Post

Two recovered ducks were slated for necropsies after dead birds were found following the pool refill, raising alarms about water quality. The National Park Service's report that a liner was cut with a sharp knife or razor and foam sealant was damaged introduces a separate, likely human-caused issue, but it does not by itself explain the duck deaths. Environmental testing and necropsies remain central to determining whether water quality, chemicals, or other factors caused the bird fatalities.