Reporting incidences of dead fish
Notice – Reporting about dead fish and dead birds along Lake Huron
Date of posting: May 2, 2025
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) staff received reports, in April and May 2025, of dead fish and dead birds along some locations of the Lake Huron shoreline.
We thank our local residents who have kept us informed of recent die-offs of fish and other wildlife. We share your concerns when these events happen. Occurrences of die-offs of fish and other animals underline the need for continued and heightened actions to limit impacts on our species.
Resource managers from difference departments, ministries and agencies strive to keep track of the frequency, duration and extent of these events to the extent possible and within the scope of their roles and responsibilities.
In some cases, research by other agencies indicates Avian Flu as the reason for bird die-offs.
At times, natural phenomena may play a significant role in a die-off of aquatic species. For instance, in spring and autumn it is not uncommon for Lake Huron to ‘turn over,’ bringing cold and low-oxygen water to the surface. Some fish are particularly susceptible to these conditions.
In cases where a Ministry investigation is conducted, Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority staff support provincial Ministry staff in their investigations.
Reporting incidents of dead wildlife
If you see an unusual occurrence of dead fish, you may call the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources fish die-off reporting line: 1-800-387-7011.
To report sick or dead wildlife – such as birds – you may contact the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC) regional centre to report sick or dead wildlife. The CWHC hotline is 1-866-673-4781.
The CWHC also has an online reporting tool.
To report a pollution incident to Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) you may call the public reporting hotline toll-free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-866-MOE-TIPS (663-8477). You may also report pollution online.
If you see dead fish or birds, Lambton Shores Endangered Fish Adventure (LSEFA) encourages you to please take photos and record the location as precisely as possible and report them to the appropriate agency.
LSEFA suggests you can take a screenshot with your smart phone or device (for example, the Compass application/program on iPhones includes GPS coordinates – and other apps and phones may also have geolocation features).
When reporting dead fish, LSEFA says the MNR line “ … doesn't operate on evenings and weekends so please call during the day. It can have long hold times, but please persevere for the fishes!”
Reports of Dead Birds
An April 12, 2025 news article describes reports of more than 60 dead birds found along the Lake Huron shoreline of Pinery Provincial Park and Ipperwash Beach. You may read the article here:
Want to know more?
If you have further questions, or want to take positive action to protect our wildlife species, we invite you to contact Mari Veliz, Healthy Watersheds Manager, by email at mveliz@abca.ca or by phone at 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610, extension 223.