Fish
Presqu'ile is nearly completely surrounded by water and these waters are home to a wide diversity of fish from small minnows to giant salmon.
While Lake Ontario is home to over 100 different species of fish, the exact number of species in the waters around Presqu'ile is unknown.
Presqu'ile is home to one of the largest marshes on Lake Ontario and this marsh plays a vital role for many different fish species. The marsh acts as a nursery, the warm, shallow water is a perfect place for eggs and baby fish to grow. Many different species will use the marsh as a nursery including Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed, Northern Pike, Bowfin, and more!
A fish that many visitors to Presqu'ile might spot is the Common Carp. The Common Carp was introduced to North America in the 1800s as a potential game fish. Unfortunately they soon began to spread and are now widespread across eastern North America. The problem with Common Carp is that they are destructive and can alter water quality. When feeding they uproot and disturb submerged vegetation as well as stirring up sediments leading to murky water. If you walk along the Marsh Boardwalk in June you can usually spot their destruction underneath the bridges.
You can help us expand our knowledge of the fish around Presqu'ile by adding your sightings to iNaturalist, a community science initiative that allows anyone to submit sightings of plants and animals. Learn more about iNaturalist and getting started here.