Naturally occurring bacteria likely responsible for deaths of fish in Bear Creek

The results are back from the Alberta government as to what killed a number of fish in Bear Creek earlier this month.

Manager of Energy Management and Environmental Services with the City of Grande Prairie, Michelle Gairdner, says the white sucker fish likely died from a naturally occurring bacteria.

“The preliminary indicators point to something called columnaris outbreak which has resulted in the fish dying.  There are still some tests outstanding, but they don’t think those results will change at all.”

She says according to the government, the bacteria occurs in warmer than normal temperatures as well as in overpopulated locations.