Dead lake Sturgeon Found on Beaches of Sleeping Bear Dunes

Something strange is happening along Lake Michigan at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore as dead lake sturgeon have been found on multiple occasions.

If you happen to find a dead sturgeon washed up on shore, rangers of Sleeping Bear Dunes are asking that you contact the Natural Resources Department right away.

According to MLive, Lake sturgeon are easily identifiable thanks to their elongated bodies, flattened snout, toothless mouth on the underside of the head and body which is covered in five rows of large, prominent bony plates, called scutes, instead of scales. Personally, I think they look very prehistoric.

Sleeping Bear Dunes:

We need your help! This Lake Sturgeon, currently listed on the Michigan Threatened Species List, was found along the Sleeping Bear Dunes shoreline. We have had this occur multiple times this summer. If you find a Lake Sturgeon washed on shore, please notify our Natural Resources Department immediately at: 231-326-4757.

 

Honestly, I don't know much about lake sturgeon but after researching a little, I found out that they live a really long time. As a matter of fact, they live longer than any other fish species in Michigan. Males live an average of 55 years while females can live to be as old as 150. Those suckers can get pretty big too, sometimes reaching 8 feet long.

Source: MLive/Sea Grant Michigan