Dog died in canal filled with duckweed, man claims

At least one dog has died in a Worcestershire canal after it turned fluorescent green, a business owner has claimed.

Paul Jefferys, owner of Oliver's Coffee Bar, said his neighbour's dog perished in the Stourport Basin last week.

The canal went viral after it changed colour due to the amount of duck weed growing in the water - which Mr Jefferys said has caused multiple dogs to nearly drown.

A spokesperson for the Canal and River Trust said: "We've put signs up in Stourport warning people to stay away from the edge, and we're asking everyone to keep their dogs under close control as stories about dogs falling in are so heartbreaking."

They added: "Our volunteers and the local team have been working hard to remove the weed in the basin, scooping up millions of pieces of the floating weed from the water's surface but the hot weather is providing perfect growing conditions.

"In addition, our weed boats are also working further up the canal to try and cut the problem off at the source."

Discussing what he had witnessed, Mr Jefferys said: "I've seen dogs going into the canal basin and nearly drown [because of the duckweed], we've had trouble getting them out.

"I've seen it on three or four occasions people have lost dogs. In fact, we lost one last week in the upper basin.

"It's sad, but it is what it is. It's weird to see just how much there is of it - it seems to be never ending."

Beth Norris the Wildlife and Water Officer for Worcestershire Wildlife Trust said duck weed had both good and bad qualities.

Explaining what the phenomenon is, she said: "It is a natural part of the fresh water eco-system but it's basically tiny little plants which are normally no bigger than 5mm in diameter.

"They have a clover-like leaf but they are really good at cloning themselves and that's why you'll see big carpeted areas of it."

Ms Norris added the plant was used a food source and a source of shelter for wildlife like ducks, frogs and insects.

However, she said the downside of duckweed was how easily it can "close itself".

"Because it does so well in these warm conditions we're having right now - particularly garden ponds - they can become carpeted in it," she said.

"That in itself can create problems, like lack of oxygen and blocking the light out for plants below the surface."

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