At that time, the 342 snow geese died due to drinking pit water, which is high in sulfuric acid. Necropsies also showed that those birds had high levels of heavy metals in their kidneys. That die-off gained national media attention.

The mining company estimates that as many as 10,000 migrating snow geese landed in the pit water the night of Nov. 28. The usual landing spot for migrating snow geese — Freezout Lake west of Great Falls — was largely frozen when the geese passed over, according to previous reports from the state Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Warm Springs Ponds, south of Deer Lodge, another popular layover spot for migrating birds, were also mostly frozen, according to a previous story.

Three snow geese were found elsewhere in Butte last week, said Butte-Silver Bow community enrichment director Ed Randall.

An individual reported to animal control on Thursday that there were two dead geese in the Walmart parking lot, Randall said. Another person found a live goose in front of a casino on the 2200 block of Amherst Avenue Wednesday. That goose died Thursday while still in animal control custody, Randall said. All three dead birds were turned over to MR.