LAKE ERIE BEACH, N.Y. — Hundreds, even thousands of dead fish are washing up along Lake Erie, catching beach-goers by surprise, but experts say there's no need to panic.

For some beachgoers, it's a disturbing sight this week. Dead fish lining parts of Lake Erie's shoreline , including parts like Bennett Beach and nearby residential areas.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation said it's mostly freshwater drum, also known as sheepshead, that are dying. But the cause isn't pollution or disease.

Instead, it's a natural event triggered by strong northeast winds. Those winds pushed cold water from the bottom of the lake up to the surface a process called upwelling.

Freshwater drum aren't able to survive the sudden temperature change, so many of them died off and have

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