The DNR is investigating why thousands of dead fish have turned up in Lake Dubay and the Stevens Point Flowage over the past two weeks. DNR Fisheries Biologist, Tom Meronek says, it appears that a virus is responsible for killing off large amounts of 3 year old Black Crappie in the bodies of water.
Meronek says, there is always viral activity in the water and when conditions are right and fish are under high stress, a virus can spread.
He says it's unusual that it only seems to be affecting 3 year old Crappie.
"From the numbers that I've had people call in about and what I've seen myself, I'm a little concerned about the one year class that's affected. It could set the population back", said Meronek.
You can't see the virus itself, but you can see the
With bodies of water the size of Lake Dubay and the Stevens Point Flowage, there isn't much the DNR can do about the virus. They have to let it runs it's course and determine the effects afterward.
Samples of the fish have been sent to fish health labs to try and pinpoint exactly why the virus set in. The results are expected in a few weeks.
The first reports of the dying fish came in on April 25th. Source
