Alaska's water temperatures have been so hot this summer that salmon are dying off in large...

Salmon are showing up dead in record numbers across Western Alaska this summer, and scientists believe it is due to an unprecedented heat wave. Stephanie Quinn-Davidson, a scientist and director of the Yukon Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, led a group of fellow scientists to investigate along the Koyokuk River and counted “850 dead unspawned salmon on that expedition, although they estimated the total was likely four to 10 times larger.” The scientists saw no signs of disease or infections. These salmon, they believe, are dying off in record numbers due to the heat.

According to KTUU, many of the salmon found dead were carrying healthy eggs. Scientists know that rising water temperatures can enervate salmon too much to go through with spawning. It also makes moving oxygen through their bodies more difficult. Other researchers told NPR that salmon are known for being very “resilient” creatures. Their known resilience is what’s most disturbing about these die-offs.