Halifax blue green algae

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A veterinary hospital in Halifax says a dog's recent death was connected to exposure to blue-green algae at Long Lake in Hammonds Plains. Halifax Veterinary Hospital said in a statement Wednesday that a dog suddenly died after spending about five minutes in the water at the lake on June The vet hospital said the dog quickly lost the ability to stand, was non-responsive and showed "seizure-like" activity. Halifax Veterinary Hospital said exposure to the algae, which produces toxins, can cause illness in humans and can be fatal to pets. The hospital stressed that if owners have doubts that a body of water has an algae bloom, it's best to keep pets on land and away from shorelines. Blue-green algae was also detected in nine other lakes across the province in July, according to the provincial Department of Environment and Climate Change.

Halifax blue green algae

Watch for blue-green algae from May to October. Blue-green algae also called cyanobacteria occurs naturally in surface waters like lakes, ponds, rivers and streams. The toxins in some algae can make people sick and can be fatal for pets if ingested. Blue-green algae are microscopic, plant-like organisms that occur naturally in ponds, rivers, lakes and streams. Blue-green algae develops when a period of hot, dry weather is followed by heavy rainfall. Increased amounts of nutrients like nutrients from fertilizers, septic systems and paved surfaces near the water can also help blue-green algae grow. Algae blooms come in many shapes and sizes, and harmful blooms can look very similar to harmless blooms. It can be blue-green, turquoise, green, brown, red, white or mixes of these colours. If you think you see blue-green algae, you should treat it as potentially toxic. Report it to your local Department of Environment and Climate Change office or call The Department of Environment and Climate Change publishes a list of potential blue-green algae bloom sightings and also shares reports on social media. Only sightings reported to the department are included on the list. If the potential blue-green algae is in public drinking water supplies, an inspector from the Department of Environment and Climate Change visually confirms the presence of blue-green algae and works directly with the water supply owner.

The bacteria has killed at least eight dogs in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in the last 10 years, Montgomery said.

Notification: Municipal statement regarding de-designated locations. Over the past several weeks, the municipality has been taking a number of steps to provide supports to those experiencing homelessness in our region, and particularly to those sleeping rough in de-designated locations. Harmful Algal Blooms may look like green dots on the surface of the water. Photo Credit: Department of Environmental Conservation. New York State. Harmful Algal Blooms may look like parallel streaks. Harmful Algal Blooms may look like paint.

The municipality wants to help Haligonians identify the potentially harmful bacteria and learn about the risks for their pets and children. Elizabeth Montgomery, water resources specialist with HRM, gave reporters a primer on blue green algae. They like warm water, meaning climate change is likely to lead to more cyanobacteria. Blooms can also look like pollen or even an oil spill. The difference is that the blue green algae is under water too, whereas pollen and oil sit on the surface. There could be blue green algae blooms happening in more remote lakes too. The bacteria has killed at least eight dogs in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in the last 10 years, Montgomery said. That includes one confirmed death this year at Long Lake in Hammonds Plains. In , two dogs died after ingesting blue green algae on Fish Lake, next to Grand Lake.

Halifax blue green algae

Notification: Municipal statement regarding Grand Parade and ongoing support to those experiencing homelessness. Over the past several weeks, the municipality has been taking a number of steps to provide supports to those experiencing homelessness in our region, and particularly to those sleeping rough in de-designated locations. Harmful Algal Blooms may look like green dots on the surface of the water. Photo Credit: Department of Environmental Conservation. New York State. Harmful Algal Blooms may look like parallel streaks. Harmful Algal Blooms may look like paint. Harmful Algal Blooms may look like pea soup.

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Blooms can form in warm, slow-moving waters that are rich in nutrients. Blooms can look like grass clippings, spilled paint, pea soup or thick scum. Children and immuno-compromised individuals as well as pets are at a higher risk for the more severe effects. Full Menu. Trending Now. The vet hospital said the dog quickly lost the ability to stand, was non-responsive and showed "seizure-like" activity. Livestock and domestic animals may be poisoned by drinking water contaminated with blue-green algae toxins. As blue-green algae in a bloom die, the water may smell bad, similar to rotting plants. Knowing where your water comes from is important in the event of a blue-green algae alert. A planktonic blue-green algae bloom resembling spilled paint near the shoreline of a lake.

Blue-green algae occurs in all parts of Nova Scotia and once it appears in a body of water, it will bloom again when the conditions are right.

Social Sharing. It just takes the will of the province and the municipalities to 1 create good regulations around vegetation management above the high water mark 2 apply them and 3 enforce the rules when violations occur. The Department of Environment and Climate Change publishes a list of potential blue-green algae bloom sightings and also shares reports on social media. It is not clear why blue-green algae cyanobacteria make these toxins. The highest concentrations of toxins are usually released into the water when the algae dies. The algae produces toxins that can cause illness in humans and can be fatal to pets. Subscribe here. You should wash with clean water as soon as possible after contact with a suspected algae bloom. Over the past several weeks, the municipality has been taking a number of steps to provide supports to those experiencing homelessness in our region, and particularly to those sleeping rough in de-designated locations. The bacteria has killed at least eight dogs in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in the last 10 years, Montgomery said. Blue-green algae mats are typically dark green or brown and contain a different type of toxin to toxin-producing blue-green algal blooms.