Animals

Fish usually thrive in the presence of abundant plant growth. Plants contribute dissolved oxygen (DO) and shade/cover for fish. However, excessive plant growth can get in the way of catching and enjoying the fish, and presents safety problems to anyone who might fall into a twisted mass of plant growth. Similar to an algal bloom die off, a sudden die down of plants could cause an abrupt DO decline that might cause a fish kill. Plants should therefore be maintained at a manageable level, and those species that are not likely to overgrow should be encouraged. Read more »

Unless you see evidence that a bird has been hit by a car or electrocuted, bird deaths can be mysterious. Possible causes of bird deaths related to lakes include algal toxins or avian botulism. Both of these causes are relatively rare. If you are seeing large numbers of birds dying, you should report the problem right away. Bird deaths in Florida are handled by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission by filling out the form located at http://www.myfwc.com/bird/

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Low oxygen levels are the most common reason for fish kills. In Florida, this most commonly occurs in the fall and summer. When the weather is hot, water is not able to hold as much dissolved oxygen (DO) for the fish to breathe. Sudden drops in oxygen caused by dying algal blooms are common in summer, as bacteria use up all the oxygen while breaking down the dead algae. Couple this with already low DO levels, and fish can die quickly. Read more »

An abundance of frogs might indicate a breeding event since adult frogs tend to assemble en masse to breed. Since many frogs return to breed at the same place they were born, you might observe repeated periodic migrations of frogs to and from your pond. On a positive note, populations of amphibians, such as frogs, are generally a sign of good water quality.

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