A severe drought in North Carolina has caused a fish kill at Lake Wilson, with longtime angler Craig Blizzard describing the conditions as the worst he has seen in 50 years. Blizzard shared photos on Facebook showing dead fish deposits along the lake, prompting concern and questions from community members.

Impact of Drought on Wildlife

According to North Carolina Wildlife officials, when bodies of water begin to dry up, wildlife is affected, especially fish, which depend on deeper, cooler water to survive. NC Fisheries Biologist David Belkoski explained that as the water gets warmer over the summer, water levels get lower, and fish get stressed due to low oxygen levels in the water.

Belkoski said these conditions typically occur later in the summer or early fall, but this year’s severe drought has accelerated the process. He added that there is little that can be done beyond hoping for significant rainfall, and that it’s going to be a stressful summer for all wildlife.

Lake Wilson is not the city’s primary drinking water source, so the municipal water supply is not currently affected. A city spokesperson said staff members are closely monitoring conditions and are prepared to implement restrictions if necessary.

Original reporting: WRAL Raleigh — read the source article.