LAKE ERIE
Type E botulism suspected in recent fish deaths
State officials suspect Type E botulism poisoning is behind recent dieoffs of fish on Lake Erie beaches.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of larger fish like smallmouth bass, catfish and sheephead, as well as mudpuppies, an aquatic salamander, have been found dead at several locations, including Point Gratiot, Sunset Bay, Evangola State Park and Sturgeon Point, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
“You get a dieoff like this and you make that assumption, but we don’t want to say for sure until we have proof,” said Russ Biss, DEC natural resource supervisor.
In the meantime, the DEC is asking people to take steps to make sure they are not poisoned by the bacterium, which can be harmful to humans:
• Harvest only fish and waterfowl that look and act healthy.
• Where rubber gloves and protective glasses when filleting, field dressing, skinning or butchering fish or waterfowl.
• If you must handle dead or dying fish or birds, wear rubber gloves or use a plastic bag.
The DEC is also asking beach walkers to report additional dieoffs or obviously distressed waterfowl by calling 851-7010.
