Whatever caused the fish die-off event in Buffalo Pound Lake this spring seems to have subsided, although researchers are still collecting data necessary to determine why it happened.
On Monday, Canadian Co-operative Wildlife Health Centre (CCWHC) regional director Trent Bollinger told the Times-Herald researchers are still “in the field” collecting samples and specimens, which will be preserved until the fieldwork season comes to an end and laboratory workers can determine the molecular characteristics of bacterial cultures from the site.
However, he said, it appears more than likely scientists will determine Columnaris disease is what caused the fish die-off at Buffalo Pound.
“It seems to be the case,” he said, adding Columnaris is a bacterial infection that is likely making trouble for local fish due to a hot summer resulting in warmer water temperatures in the shallow lakes of Southern Saskatchewan.
As reported in the June 20 edition of the Times-Herald, this is the second year in a row the local lake has experienced a fish die-off event.
For more on this story, read an upcoming edition of the Times-Herald.
