Warning for pet owners, blue-green algae can bloom in the Tri-States – WGEM

QUINCY (WGEM) — A warning for pet owners, after recent pet deaths related to blue-green algae have made national headlines, local conservationist said the Tri-States should be on the look out too.

Travis Moore, Missouri Department of Conservation Fisheries Management Biologist, said he has not received any reports of blue-green algae in the area this year. However, he said it is common to the area and typically blooms in late summer. Moore said it will look like someone has dumped a turquoise, bluish paint in a pond or a body of water. If you see it you should avoid it and not let your pets near it.

“We had a guy, that I know from Palymra, a few years ago that had a very similar incident,” said Moore. “His dog had been in the water, came out and licked itself and within a couple of hours the animal had passed away.”

“It’s one of those things that tends to work very quickly and it’s very deadly to those pets,” Moore said.

If you suspect you have blue-green algae growing in your pond, call the Department of Conservation and they will help you get rid of it.

Resources on blue-green algae:

Illinois EPA: Blue-Green Algae and Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)

Illinois DPH: Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)

EPA: Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms (CyanoHABs) in Water Bodies