WINTER GARDEN, Fla. – Dozens of dead fish and a strong odor raised concerns Wednesday evening at Newton Park along Lake Apopka, prompting questions from park visitors and a News 6 viewer who asked the station to investigate.
When News 6 arrived at the park, dead fish could be seen floating in the water and washed up against shoreline vegetation, accompanied by the smell of decay.
Sam Mancuso said he first noticed the problem while walking near the lake inside the park.
“At first we thought it was sewage gone bad because we had never experienced anything like all these dead fish before,” Mancuso said. “As we walked along the edge where a lot of the birds nest, we saw so many of the fish had washed in and got caught up against the vegetation.”
Mancuso said he was concerned because wildlife in the area appeared to be avoiding the dead fish.
“There are ospreys here. There are eagles here. There’s alligators here,” he said. “Apparently, they don’t want to eat these dead fish, so who knows.”
News 6 contacted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which said it had not received any reports of dead fish at Newton Park as of Wednesday evening.
A representative said a biologist would be notified Thursday.
Several people visiting the park Wednesday evening also complained about the smell and said they were concerned about how it could affect families and children who frequent the area.
Officials said they will look into the situation and assess what may have caused the fish to die. News 6 will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.