Thousands of dead fish are floating up along the Rouge River in Southwest Detroit—What is causing it?
Video shows a layer of dead fish lining the water near the Fort Street Bridge, close to the Marathon refinery. While the sight may seem alarming, experts say it’s a natural occurrence.
According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), this annual event is known as a “winterkill.” It typically happens in the spring after ice melts and water temperatures rise. The fish run out of oxygen under the ice, often due to the decay of plants and other organic material over the winter months.
The DNR says while the number of dead fish might look severe, it usually doesn’t have long-term effects on fish populations.
