Meg Hilling DURANGO, Colo. – Many are feeling the heat from the drought.
According to wildlife experts, animals like fish are struggling through the dry conditions.
"Fish definitely feel it quite a bit," said Ryan Votta, assistant manager at the Durango State Fish Hatchery.
Managers with the fish hatchery in Durango say they are having to release the fish into the rivers sooner this year.
Usually, we like to get out catchable rainbows to 10 inches," Votta said.
"But because of extremely low water and extreme drought conditions, we’ve had to stock several fish out as 9 inchers just because we don’t have the water to keep these fish healthy."
"Another big concern is that when we are stocking them out in the rivers and lakes around here, is checking that those water bodies are safe to stock our fish," Votta said.
"Making sure the dissolved oxygen is okay, the PH levels are okay.
It’s not just fish.
"Try to keep them moving so they are seeking natural sources of food and not human sources."