Sarah Bauer takes a kidney sample from a largemouth bass captured in reservation waters. - FWS photo

With the threat of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) the Menominee Tribe has concerns with VHS in reservation waters.  In particular they were concerned with Legend Lake. 

Legend Lake is connected to the Lake Winnebago System through a series of streams and rivers.  The concern was raised when VHS was isolated out of Lake Winnebago and Lake Butte des Morts in spring of 2007.   

VHS is a deadly fish virus which was isolated in the Great Lakes in 2003.  It caused local fish kills and in 2005 massive fish kills start occurring in the Great Lakes region. 

The virus causes hemorrhaging in the fish’s organs and externally in the eyes, skin, and fins. At this time, VHS has been isolated from 25 different species in Region 3.

On October 17 members of the Menominee Tribe assisted Dave Wedan of the La Crosse National Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office in the collection of the fish.  A total of four species with a total of 100 fish were collected. 

The fish were packed on ice and transported to the La Crosse Fish Health Centers lab for processing.  Necropsies were preformed at the lab and fish health samples were taken to screen for viruses and bacteria.