More than 30 deer have turned up dead near a landfill in Utah, prompting an investigation by state officials and new measures meant in part to keep the animals from the site. The deaths came to light earlier this week after hikers shared photos on social media of dead deer strewn across a road near Three Mile Canyon Landfill in Coalville, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) northeast of Salt Lake City. One photo shows dozens of decaying deer carcasses mixed with trash on the edges of nearby Rockport State Park. Deer come to the landfill each winter seeking food then fall ill after ingesting plastic and other toxins, Summit County Solid Waste Division superintendent Tim Loveday said. Loveday said a recent spike in the state's deer population and the brutal winter have meant more deer are dying of starvation and cold.

Source: ABC News May 24, 2019 19:14 UTC