OTTAWA COUNTY, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has determined that the fish die-off in Lake Macatawa has been caused by viral hemorrhagic septicemia, or VHS.
Springtime fish kills are common and found after bodies of water thaw. Usually, they are caused by winter conditions and stress on the fish.
In Lake Macatawa, hundreds of dead fish have been spotted, causing some concern from visitors. The DNR said they began getting many reports of the fish kill in mid-April and opened an investigation.
Brian Gunderman with the DNR said there's no cause for concern at the large die-off. Fish kills of this size are seen at least once in southwest Michigan each year, he said.
The DNR struggled to find a fish that had died recently enough to be tested for disease, but officials were eventually able to determine that VHS has caused the larger-than-average fish kill in Lake Macatawa.
“The virus that causes VHS is known to have been in the Great Lakes basin since approximately 2005,” said Ed Eisch, DNR Fisheries Division assistant chief.
The DNR said the VHS outbreak is likely winding down, and is not anticipated to have a lasting effect on the lake's fish population.
Officials did have one word of caution: If you're fishing in multiple bodies of water, you're asked to disinfect your boat and gear.
“Disinfecting gear that comes into contact with water, as well as making sure that you clean, drain and dry your boat and trailer between going from one water body to the next is one of the best ways to keep such organisms from spreading across the state,” said Eisch. “Doing so is always a good practice, but especially if you’ve been in Lake Macatawa this spring.”
VHS does not pose a threat to pets or humans that come into contact with the water.
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