Nearby residents say it was horrible to watch. They say they saw several ducks, one at a time, start behaving erratically right before they died.

It happened Saturday afternoon at Lake Mingo in Nicholasville. Within about four hours, at least seven ducks died.

"It was like their necks were broke, it was like they were just drowning themselves," said Billie Williams, a nearby resident who frequents the lake. She took it upon herself to contact city officials after seeing the ducks die.

Later that evening, officials were on scene to pick up the dead ducks and take them to UK where they will be examined.

Signs have also been posted around the lake warning that the water could be contaminated.