Small Spring Fish Kills

As the weather warms, don’t be alarmed if you spot a small number of dead fish along your lake’s shoreline. Fish die-offs are not at all uncommon in the spring. So-called "spring kills" occur when a small number of fish who survived the winter die as the water warms. These events are almost always related to a combination of natural stresses unique to the spring season. Fish that have survived the winter are in a somewhat weakened condition because they’ve been eating at a reduced rate; at the same time, their metabolism rates increase as the water warms and spawning activities begin. In addition, bacteria and other microorganisms begin to reproduce in the spring and may infect fish that are in a weakened state. Fish mortality is high in general and this combination of stresses can easily result in a minor "kill." This type of small-scale die-off event is not a cause for concern; however, if large numbers of dead fish are found, an investigation is warranted to determine the potential cause(s).