A majority of the popular Yellowstone River in Montana has been closed off after thousands of fishes have been mysteriously killed in the area.
Advertisement
According to the state’s wildlife division, there have been more than 2,000 recorded instances of Mountain Whitefish dying from this parasite, though the department estimates that there could be tens of thousands of fish affected throughout the larger Yellowstone River region.
All in all, there are hundreds of miles of Yellowstone River waterways closed, including those originating from the Boulder, Shields, and Stillwater rivers. Most of those are mountain whitefish, but there have been reports of dead rainbow and Yellowstone cutthroat trout. The magnitude of this issue, both of fish dead as well as in the length of the river affected, makes it an unprecedented situation.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks said in a press release that the cause for the kill is proliferative kidney disease, which it said is “one of the most serious diseases to impact whitefish and trout”.
The disease could have been triggered by certain “stressors” such as high temperature, low water flow and human recreational activity. “We have not identified that parasite anywhere in the park, and we also haven’t had any dead fish reported inside Yellowstone”. Officials said it does not pose a health risk to people.
Montana is closing a 175-mile stretch of the Yellowstone River to all recreational activities to prevent the spread of a parasite that is believed to have killed tens of thousands of fish, authorities said Friday. The closure of the river will remain in effect until temperature, water quality, and fish mortality has improved. Wildlife officials confirmed more than 4,000 fish deaths, but they say the toll is probably much higher. The locals agree that the closing will be catastrophic for their businesses, but the parasite issue must be dealt with to protect their resources for the future.
Montana wildlife officials say a massive fish kill that prompted the closure of a 183-mile stretch of river includes dead fish found inside Yellowstone National Park. “It’s definitely a big part of the Livingston and area economy”.
The closure area stretches from the northern boundary of Yellowstone National Park at Gardiner, downstream to Laurel.
Wildlife officials plan to apply a fish-killing poison to a stream system that flows through Yellowstone National Park. The agency is asking the public to properly clean all equipment prior to moving between bodies of water. FWP has also set up two Aquatic Invasive Species decontamination stations set up along I-90 near the affected area in an effort to help reduce the chance of this parasite moving to other rivers. It’s true for biologists, it’s true for anglers. They’re trying to rid the waters in the Soda Butte Creek drainage of non-native brook trout. If you would like to discuss another topic, look for a relevant article.
Advertisement
Be proactive – Use the “Flag as Inappropriate” link at the upper right corner of each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
