Over the past several days, we’ve noticed a growing number of dead fish, which have unfortunately attracted quite a few vultures and created a not-so-pleasant sight (or smell) at our community entrance.
As those of you who have lived here for some time know, this is highly unusual.
That’s why earlier this week we reached out to both Lake Doctors, our pond maintenance provider, and the City of Orlando’s Stormwater Division to better understand the potential cause and the best way to address it.
So, what’s happening?
The initial belief is that our recent stretch of colder-than-usual weather is to blame.
The fish being impacted are primarily tilapia, a tropical species considered invasive in Florida. As both Lake Doctors and the City explained, tilapia are particularly sensitive to temperature changes, and seasonal die-offs are not uncommon, especially following colder weather or spawning.
While considered invasive, tilapia do serve a useful purpose in our ponds by helping control algae, and their young provide food for other fish. They also reproduce rather quickly! Lake Doctors advised that if we experience a particularly cold winter, we could see additional die-offs.
What are we doing about it?
Out of an abundance of caution, especially given the additional pond treatments over the past few months to address excessive vegetation growth, we’ve asked Lake Doctors to collect water samples to help rule out any water quality concerns.
We’re also working with them to address the dead fish themselves and get the pond back to its usual condition as quickly as possible.
We certainly recognize this isn’t the most pleasant situation, particularly for those who live near the pond or pass by it daily. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through it.
Rest assured, we’re on top of it and working with the appropriate professionals to get things cleaned up. We’ll continue to share updates as needed.
