Cape Breton Fishing Fanatics member, Aj Traboulsee from Port Morien, posted photos of a trout that appeared to have an injury or illness to the Facebook group. The pictures were taken at Morrison's Lake in Cape Breton.

Members of the group speculated as to what was the cause of the abnormality, and several were on the mark with their explanations.

Upon contacting Nova Scotia sport fishing guides, there was a general consensus from those who responded. They suggested that sometimes trout or salmon may narrowly escape becoming a meal for an eagle, loon, kingfisher, blue heron, otter, seal, mink or any of the various types of hungry creatures they must do their best to avoid if they want to survive.

Despite surviving an attack from a hungry predator, the injury can weaken the fish and make it susceptible to infection or fungus.

Expert fisherman and sport fishing guide, Leonard Forsyth, spent 40 years working in fish hatcheries and says it's a common occurrence. He says flesh from an injury can get exposed to saprolegnia fungus. In colder or salt waters, it has an opportunity to heal. However, in warmer waters, the fungus can continue to grow and may lead to the trout's death.