Home > Mass Animal Deaths, Pestilence > Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission Studying Lake Buffum Catfish Dieoff Near Fort Meade

Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission Studying Lake Buffum Catfish Dieoff Near Fort Meade

07/04/2012 Leave a comment Go to comments

By Tom Palmer – “I received a report over the weekend about a fish kill on Lake Buffum near Fort Meade.

Instead of being the normal fish kill that involves a drop in oxygen levels caused by an algae die-off that leaves fish floating everywhere, this one affected only catfish, I was told.

I spoke with Eric Johnson, a fisheries biologist at FWC’s Lakeland office.

He confirmed the report. He said tissue samples have been sent to a state lab in St. Petersburg to get more accurate info, but tentatively it appears to be the result of bacteria or some other microorganism.

Johnson said this occurs occasionally and there’s really nothing that can be done about it but to let it pass. Fish populations eventually recover.

This has been going on for a few weeks, Johnson said.

I’m surprised no one had contacted us–they usually do–but public access to the lake has been limited for some time because of the drought has made the boat ramp unusable.” Source – Polk Outdoors.

Categories: Mass Animal Deaths, Pestilence
  1. Wild Florida's avatar
    Wild Florida
    10/26/2012 at 1:53 PM
    Reply

    Nature is a very delicate balance. Situations such as this are just a part of nature and, as the article mentions, there isn’t much we can do about it.

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