Massive fish — weighing 300 pounds — washes up dead at Washington lake. What is it?
.png "A massive fish was found Sept. 6 in Lake Washington in Kenmore, wildlife officials said. A cause of death hasn’t been determined.")
A massive fish weighing over 300 pounds washed ashore a Washington lake, wildlife officials.
Now its death is being investigation.
The white sturgeon was found Sept. 6 at Lake Washington in Log Boom Park in Kenmore, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a Sept. 15 email.
It measured 8.2 feet long, weighed an estimated 300 to 400 pounds and was 60 to 80 years old, according to an initial necropsy report.
A scientist and biologist dissected the fish and learned it was a female with some clam shells in its stomach.
Additionally, a researcher with the University of Washington took tissue samples to test for parasites, officials said. A scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also took a sample for a toxicology report.
Fish is common in Washington
A cause of death hasn’t been determined, officials said.
The massive creature is common in Washington, though, officials said.
“They are not unexpected, but certainly interesting examples of the diversity of fish big and small that live in Washington state,” officials said.
White sturgeon live in lakes and rivers across the Pacific Northwest, including in Lake Washington, wildlife officials said.
They can live in both saltwater and freshwater and can measure up to 10 feet long and weigh up to 1,000 pounds.
These species are listed under the Species of Greatest Conservation Need.
Kenmore is about 15 miles northeast of Seattle.
This story was originally published September 15, 2023 at 4:46 PM with the headline "Massive fish — weighing 300 pounds — washes up dead at Washington lake. What is it?."
