Algae blooms have been detected on Hess Lake in Newaygo County.
Algae blooms can form when there are high nutrient levels within bodies of water along with warm temperatures.
Not all algae blooms are toxic, but it's hard to tell from a glance.
Contact with algae blooms can cause minor illness in humans but can be fatal to pets. Therefore, it is also recommended that people keep their pets out of the water that shows any signs of algae blooms.
Steps you can take to protect yourself include:
· Avoiding direct contact with waterways that appear to be scummy or have a green shade to them
· Not drinking untreated surface water
· Obeying posted signage for public health advisories and/or beach closings
· Limiting or avoiding eating fish from algal bloom impacted areas
If you think that you or your pet have been exposed to algae blooms, take the following precautions:
- Immediately remove yourself and/or your pet from the area
- Take a shower and thoroughly rinse off pets with clean, fresh water if they swam in an area with algae blooms to avoid potential toxic ingestion from licking between paws or affected areas
- Seek medical treatment for yourself and/or veterinary treatment for your pet as soon as possible if you think you or your pet may have been exposed to or ingested algal toxins