(Orleans)– Officials say recent fish kills on the Iowa Great Lakes involving Crappie and Bluegill are the result of natural occurrences that happen each year during spawning in the spring.
Mike Hawkins, a fisheries biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the spawning season is stressful to the fish. He says changes in water temperature, water quality and availability of food are all behind that. Hawkins adds fish are more vulnerable to predators during spawning. He says crappie and bluegill also tend to overcrowd while spawning. He says they’ve been seeing high densities of those species this season.
Anyone who sees dead fish, especially when there are several species or sizes, or a pollutant, should contact the DNR’s spill line at 515-725-8694 as soon as possible.
