News
Mission:
To protect and promote the natural, recreational and historical resources of Voyageurs National Park.
Biologists Concerned About Walleyes in Lake Kabetogama
“Lake Kabetogama has always been a good walleye lake. But in recent years, biologists have been a bit befuddled,” writes Sam Cook with the Duluth Tribune News. “The lake will have a good hatch of walleyes one year, but in the next two to three years, the fish won’t show up in Department of Natural Resources survey nets.”
The DNR has documented an increase the mortality of young walleyes, and biologists remain uncertain as to why they aren’t showing up like they used to. Kevin Peterson, supervisor of the DNR area fisheries at International Falls says that their are numerous possible explanations.
Recent changes in Lake Kabetogama that might contribute to the decline include: climate change (walleyes thrive in cool water), an increase in smallmouth bass, shoreline development that may be affecting water quality, an increase in cormorant population, more large walleyes that eat young walleyes, and higher water levels giving northern pike better access to walleye spawning areas. The DNR marked young walleyes with dye as they hatched this past spring, hoping that it will provide them with more information to work with.
To read more about the possible causes for the decrease in young walleye, read Sam Cook’s article in the Duluth News Tribune from August 24,2008.