The Poynter Institute Menu Donate State Editions * California * Florida * Iowa * Michigan * New Hampshire * New York * North Carolina * Pennsylvania * Texas * West Virginia * Wisconsin Issues * All Issues * Online hoaxes * Coronavirus * Health Care * Immigration * Extremism * Taxes * Marijuana * Environment * Crime * Guns * Foreign Policy * LGBTQ+ People * Joe Biden * Kamala Harris * Donald Trump * Mitch McConnell * Hakeem Jeffries * Ron DeSantis Media * PunditFact * Tucker Carlson * Sean Hannity * Rachel Maddow * Bloggers * PolitiFact Videos Campaigns * 2024 Elections Truth-o-Meter * True * Mostly True * Half True * Mostly False * False * Pants on Fire Promises * Biden Promise Tracker * Trump-O-Meter * Obameter * Latest Promises About Us * Our Process * Our Staff * En Español * Who pays for PolitiFact? * Advertise with Us * Suggest a Fact-check * Corrections and Updates * Newsletters Donate #### Follow us The Facts Newsletter Sign up English Español ### Get PolitiFact in your inbox. * Weekly Email Newsletter * Daily Email Newsletter Your Email Address Sign Up ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on March 28, 2019 in a Facebook post: Bluegill fish \"are responsible for over 500 deaths in the United States every summer.\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" ![\\"pants- fire\\"](\\" * Environment * Facebook Fact-checks * Viral image ![\\"Ciara](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke April 1, 2019 # No, Bluegill fish aren’t responsible for hundreds of human deaths every year As spring turns to summer, should you be wary of death-by-bluegill fish as you step into the water to cool off? That’s what a recent Facebook post suggests, showing a photo of a fish about the size of of an outstretched palm and the words: \"Did you know?\" \"The Bluegill fish is one of the most dangerous fish in North America,\" the March 28 post claims. \"The bluegill is related to the deadly piranna (sic) which is responsible for 20,000 deaths per year. When the bluegill are feeding in a school, they can completely dismantle a human body in less than 15 minutes. Bluegills are responsible for over 500 deaths in the United States every summer.\" A citation at the bottom of the text credits \"Ohio fish news 1987.\" The post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.) Let’s look at whether bluegills are responsible for more than 500 human deaths in the United States every summer. #### Featured Fact-check ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on August 30, 2024 in a post \"Samsung drops out of $1 billion advertising campaign with Olympics.\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" false/33efdb6633e5e2fdc2d4e2f63383a1e0.jpg.\\") ![\\"false\\"](\\" false.jpg\\") By Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu • August 2, 2024 The fish doesn’t show up on Britannica’s list of 10 of the most dangerous fish in the world, though the piranha (spelled correctly) ranks fourth. The bluegill, meanwhile, is one of the most popular sport fish in the United States, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The fish’s range spans North America, from Canada to northern Mexico, and they like quiet streams, ponds, lagoons and small- to medium-sized lakes. Their diet? Insects, insect larvae, small crustaceans and worms. (No humans listed.) We couldn’t find any credible evidence that bluegill fish prey on people, not to mention kill hundreds of them every year. Rather, news coverage of the fish is positive, and it doesn’t suggest that we should fear the bluegill. On May 25, 2018, USA Today published a piece titled: \"Easy to find and fun to catch, bluegill are America’s fish.\" \"They’re delicious when lightly battered and fried,\" the story says. We rate this Facebook post Pants on Fire! Share the Facts 2019-04-02 15:10:17 UTC PolitiFact ![\\"PolitiFact\\"](\\" 1 1 7 ![\\"PolitiFact](\\" pof.png\\") PolitiFact Rating: Pants on Fire Bluegill fish \"are responsible for over 500 deaths in the United States every summer.\" Viral image On the internet ![](\\" Thursday, March 28, 2019 2019-03-28 Read More info #### Read About Our Process The Principles of the Truth-O-Meter ### Our Sources Facebook post, March 28, 2019 Britannica, \"10 of the world’s most dangerous fish,\" visited March 29, 2019 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bluegill, visited March 29, 2019 USA Today, \"Easy to find and fun to catch, bluegill are America’s fish,\" May 25, 2018 ## Browse the Truth-O-Meter ### More by Ciara O\'Rourke slide 4 to 6 of 15 ![](\\" logo-black-01/b6cedac93f6e57c68ecc025e5ec29d57.jpg\\") ![](\\" logo-black-01/438dbf066033f99de07598cbcc77ddcb.jpg\\") Threads posts stated on September 2, 2024 in a Threads post: Photo shows Vice President Kamala Harris “in the 90s.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" 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Bluegill fish are responsible for over 500 deaths in the United States every summer