Shovelnose sturgeon deaths a mystery
By Kevin Schnepp Staff writer

Searching for the cause Department of Natural Resources District III officer Matt Tholen holds a sick shovelnose sturgeon he caught on the Wabash River. Large numbers of the species have died off recently from north of Delphi to the Attica area. Tholen and fellow officer Todd Pekny have been involved in researching the problem for weeks. The DNR asked anyone with information regarding the plight of the shovelnose to contact the district 3 office at (765) 447-9582 or call their local sheriff's non-emergency line. Photo provided

Mysterious deaths of dozens of shovelnose sturgeon in the Wabash River have sparked the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to search for the cause.

Groups of dead sturgeon, numbering up to 100 at a time, were reported to the DNR by local river dwellers recently, including early this week.

Reports have come from just north of Delphi to approximately 42 miles downriver near Attica according to DNR fisheries biologist Tom Stefanavage.

Stefanavage, stationed at Sugar Ridge State Park in southern Indiana, was called in to help collect fish and data. He said most of the time cause of death can be determined relatively easily.

However, when no clear answer was discovered, the problem was elevated to the Indianapolis DNR office and notification was given to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

Officers continue scan the river for clues while specialists and researchers sift through the information. However, they see no clear developments either.

"It does not fit spill or kill," DNR Chief of Fisheries Bill James said during a July 23 Comet interview. "I don't know if we've ever seen sturgeon deaths like this."

DNR contaminants supervisor Dr. Wayne Fattz said 'contaminant insult' does not typically affect one species. When no clear answer is available, every angle is a possibility he explained.

"Maybe sometimes we have to find out what it isn't and rule things out," Fattz said.

James added fish with lower temperature and water-level tolerances than shovelnose sturgeon are not dying off. That does not necessarily mean those causes are not part of the problem. Coupled with other situations they could increase fish stress levels and cause death.

"Stresses are cumulative," he explained. "We're always trying to find patterns and repetitive actions."

Sturgeon and water samples were supplied to the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Purdue University for testing. So far no conclusive results have been returned, but lack of oxygen and viral infection are two areas of focus according to Tholen. Official results from the tests should be available within a few days.

Stefanavage said when it comes to difficult situations like this, information from residents who spend a lot of time on the river can become invaluable.

"It takes a lot of eyes and a lot of information," he explained. "It's everybody's river."