Two more ducks found dead near Reflecting Pool

Administration Two more ducks found dead near Reflecting Pool Comments: by Max Rego - 06/23/26 11:03 AM ET Comments: Link copied by Max Rego - 06/23/26 11:03 AM ET Comments: Link copied

NOW PLAYING

Two more dead ducks were found near the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, after a separate bird carcass was found floating in the recently renovated site.

The Washington Post reported Monday the two dead ducks were found in a pond at Constitution Gardens on the National Mall, located roughly 200 feet from the Reflecting Pool.

City Wildlife, an animal rescue group based in Washington, D.C., told the paper that a staffer collected the animal carcasses on Sunday and brought them to the organization’s facility. The Hill has reached out to City Wildlife for comment.

Photos of the first dead duckling floating in the pool surfaced online days after the Trump administration completed monthslong repairs to the site.

The renovations included repainting the base of the pool a shade of blue to match the American flag — but the paint began peeling off the bottom days after the project finished.

The federal contract with Atlantic Industrial Coatings to renovate the pool also increased from $13.1 million a month ago to $14.7 million last week, according to a federal database.

Also, after the repairs were complete, the 2,028-foot pool also turned green due to an algal bloom. To combat that algae growth, the National Park Service (NPS) began using hydrogen peroxide last week.

A spokesperson for the Interior Department told The Hill last week the NPS is using a nanobubble ozone technology system to kill algae, pathogens and other contaminants. They also noted that researchers at the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Ohio State University and the University of Florida tested and validated the technology.

President Trump has blamed vandalism for the issues at the pool. The administration on Monday said five individuals were arrested in connection to vandalism at the site, while five others received federal citations.