This Is Why You May See Dead Fish in Michigan This Spring

After what felt like a normal winter in Michigan this year, which might seem unusual considering the mild winters of recent years, things could look (and smell) a little different when walking along the state’s lakes, rivers, and ponds.

You have to admit, that Michigan residents have been spoiled over the last few years with warmer-than-usual conditions. Well, we finally got what was coming to us with plenty of snow and brutal cold temps.

Due to those colder temps, Michigan's wildlife may have been affected, especially in areas like lakes, rivers, and ponds. According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), colder conditions can lead to what they say is a natural phenomenon called winterkill, where fish, turtles, frogs, toads, and crayfish die due to a lack of oxygen in the water.

DNR:

The fish actually suffocated from a lack of dissolved oxygen from decaying plants and dead aquatic animals under the ice.

This is something that usually happens in shallow water but doesn't typically affect the overall health of fish populations or the quality of fishing.

While spotting dead fish or other critters might be kind of gross and maybe a little disturbing, it’s actually a normal part of Michigan’s winter. The good news is, that it usually doesn’t harm the bigger picture, and things will start to get back to normal as the weather warms up.

Just remember, there's nothing to freak out about if you start to notice dead fish, frogs, or turtles along the water. It’s just nature doing its thing.