Sturgeon Are Leaping in the Rivers of North FL Running Into Them Can Cause Injury or Death
Posted July 05, 2015 02:20 pm
Sturgeon leaping on the Suwannee river. Photo by Joe
Richard
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – The tragic death on the Suwannee River of 5-year old Jaylon Rippy along with the injuries of her brother and mother at 8:47 pm on July 3 is still under investigation by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Also on July 3, FWC reported that Colleen Harvey and her husband Charles were injured while heading eastbound on the Santa Fe River. They are investigating.
Major Andy Krause, FWC regional commander in Lake City said, "With the low water levels in the river system, the sturgeon are jumping much more frequently than in recent years. We want everyone boating on the Suwannee and Santa Fe Rivers to be aware that the sturgeon are jumping and that people have been injured.”
Sturgeon strikes should be reported to the FWC by calling 888-404-3922.
Why Sturgeon Jump
In 2006, National Geographic News wrote an article Mystery of Florida's Giant Jumping Sturgeon Solved?
The article began, "It's a quiet Friday morning on the Suwannee River in northwestern Florida, when a giant fish suddenly leaps six feet out of the water and crashes back into the river."
"The stunt is performed by a Gulf sturgeon, a giant fish that traces its roots back to the days of the dinosaurs and can grow up to 8 feet long and weigh up to 200 pounds."
Sturgeon have been around and jumping for about the past 200 million years since the time of the dinosaurs.
The FWC suggests "everyone wear their life jackets, stay off the bow of the boat, and go slow while underway."
Paying attention is also a good idea.