Potentially toxic bacterial blooms were detected in a pond in Mashpee this week.
The cyanobacteria blooms, which can be toxic to both animals and humans, were identified and town advisories were posted at Mashpee Wakeby Pond, the Association to Preserve Cape Cod, a nonprofit focused on natural resource restoration on the Cape, said in a statement Friday.
The organization urged people to keep away from the potentially toxic waterbody and avoid incidentally ingesting the pond water, which can happen while swimming.
“Dogs and children are especially susceptible to cyanotoxins through ingestion,” the association noted.
Cyanobacteria are microscopic organisms that live in all types of waterbodies. A large growth results in algae blooms, which can pollute the water and may even be toxic to animals and people, according to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s website.
The association has an interactive online map that shows the status of ponds that are being monitored for cyanobacteria.
If you see a possible cyanobacteria bloom in a pond, avoid it and notify your local board of health, the association said. Take a photograph, note the location and date and send the picture and information to cyano@apcc.org.
Mashpee Wakeby Pond is fed by groundwater and drains to the Mashpee River.
