Dead fish in Lehigh Acres canal raise concerns among residents

LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. —

Residents in Lehigh Acres are expressing concern as dozens of dead fish have been spotted floating in a canal between Douglas Avenue South and Curtis Road, with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission receiving more than 250 calls since February about similar incidents, suspected to be caused by cold weather.

"In my time, this is the first time that I’ve seen it," said Randy Spicer, a local resident who has lived in the area since 2010.

Spicer, who walks the area daily, noted, "I had not noticed it until here recently."

Neighbors have observed an increase in bird activity around the canal, although the birds appear uninterested in the dead fish.

Wendy Vojir, who has lived in the area for over 30 years, said, "That's a shame. It really is."

She recalled a time when the canal was a lively spot, saying, "Used to be the kids playing in it."

Vojir expressed her concerns about water quality and trash in the canal, stating, "I'd like to see them come in and address the drainage. I mean, I've been here since 92', and I've never seen them clean the canals out here."

The FWC encourages the public to report dead fish to their fish kills hotline or online.

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