Don’t Be Alarmed If You See One of These Slimy Organisms in a KY Lake

I love swimming in lakes. I love swimming, period, and I'm fine with a pool. They're great for parties. But lakes, man. That's like going back in time. It always makes me feel like a kid.

What Lurks Beneath the Surface of Kentucky's Lakes

When you swim in a lake, be prepared to "feel" things in a different way. When I was a kid, and we'd go swimming out at Fish & Game in eastern Daviess County (back when it was a public lake), it was routine to feel fish brush up against your feet. Sometimes they'd even bite, but it was never anything serious.

And this isn't either, but if you see one of these slimy, cocoon-like things (one was recently pulled out of Rough River Lake), it might give you pause. Lord knows what kind of facial expression you'd make if you felt one on, say, your ankle.

What Are Bryozoa?

Welcome to the world of the Bryozoa, tiny aquatic creatures no more than a few millimeters in width. No, it doesn't look tiny, but that's because it is a Bryozoan colony. Like coral, Bryozoa used calcium to create structures, although ones not as sturdy as those of coral. Underwater, they attach themselves to things like branches, forming a blob that resembles a sea sponge.

Read More: Strange Aquatic 'Fly' Has a Bite and Can Be Found in Kentucky

Also, when you're looking at Bryozoans, you're looking at a species that is hundreds of millions of years old. You can even purchase their fossils.

Why Bryozoan Colonies Are a Good Sign

Bryozoans are filter-feeders, gobbling up diatoms and algae and therefore creating clean water in their proximity. A healthy part of an aquatic ecosystem, Bryozoa also produce chemical compounds which could be beneficial in the field of medicine.

They're also harmless. You can pick one up, if you so desire, and if you think you ever will, here's a description of what that experience might feel like.

I know it's summertime, but a little biology lesson never hurt anyone.