Slime in Prospect Park Lake is hazardous

Via Brooklyn Paper

A recent growth of green bacteria in Prospect Park Lake that looks like something out of the Creature from the Black Lagoon could possibly be threatening the wildlife.

While the Park Department is testing samples of the scum for more information of its potential threat, park advocates say fewer egrets, herons and fish-eating fowls have been seen around the lake since May. Aside from running off the wildlife, the green slime may be putting animals and people at risk.

On Sunday, an unidentified animal was found dead in the lake, covered in slime. While certain levels of bacteria are normal in a lake, deadly algaes can cut off oxygen supply to the wildlife.

According to the Brooklyn Paper:

Scientists have not yet confirmed the strand of scum. But the men and women in the white jackets admitted that it might be cyanobacteria, a blue-green algae that can make humans sick and kill animals.

What say you? Has anyone had an experience with the slime?