Massive Fish Kill in Louisiana

A massive fish kill has been spotted near the mouth of the Mississippi River in Louisiana, and close-up photos show that what initially looks like a long, winding paved road is actually a waterway clogged with dead things. Fish kills are common in the area, thanks to agricultural runoff that causes oxygen-free dead zones in the water. But usually just a single species is killed at one time. This kill, photographed by a local politician, contains fish, crabs, stingrays, eels—and even a dead whale. Residents suspect the die-off is connected to the BP oil spill—some have feared that oil-eating microbes would deplete oxygen levels—but there are currently no plans to test for evidence the two events are connected.