As we finally are getting some warmer temperatures, please be on the lookout for blue-green algae.
Contact or consumption can be serious for humans and animals.
A dog died last month after spending about 5 minutes in the water at Long Lake in Hammonds Plains. The dog became non-responsive & passed away roughly 2 hours after being in the lake.
The algae looks like black, brown, or dark green clumps of vegetation along the shoreline or at the bottom of clear shallow areas. If the blooms are on the surface, they can look like foam, paint streak, or grass clippings in the water.
They can also have an odor that attracts dogs who often will consume it.
In people, blue-green algae exposure when swimming can cause itchy, irritated eyes and skin. Swallowing or inhaling the water can cause headaches, fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Prolonged exposure can damage the liver.
Children are at greater risk because of their lower body weight. They also tend spend more time in water and are more likely to swallow it.
