White, Ga. -- State officials said Thursday that that corn laced with insecticide is to blame for the deaths of hundreds of wild birds in Bartow County.

Investigators said they found a pile of corn contaminated with an insecticide commonly used to treat grubs and reduce lice infestation on cattle.

State officials sent the bird remains to a federal lab for testing to determine the exact insecticide used to poison the birds.

About 500 dead birds have been found so far within a half-mile of the farm in White where officials said the corn was deliberately spread around a pond, apparently as an attempt to control a nuisance wildlife problem.

Authorities have traced the farm to Roger Kahn, a candidate for the U.S. Congress in 2000 and 2002. He could not be reached for comment Thursday.

A number of bird species were affected, including doves, ducks, geese, red-winged blackbirds, grackle and hawks.

Officials said that cold weather and snowy, icy roads were hampering the investigation. But they think over 1,000 birds may have been poisoned. Also, any pets or wildlife that eat the poisoned birds also are in danger.

Investigators have not publicly identified the people who put out the poisoned corn.

It is illegal to harm wildlife in Georgia, and whoever is responsible could face a year in prison and a $1,000 fine for each animal that dies.