Yellowstone River Parasite

[threepwood]

They've identified the specific parasite causing the fish kill in the Yellowstone River: Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae

Interestingly, it seems to be evolved from jellyfish, of all things.

 

Montana has closed a huge section of the river. Most of the dead are whitefish so far, but some trout are starting to succumb as well.

[monger]

That is pretty scary. New creatures coming to the forefront as the environment continues to change. Hopefully these ones don't spread all over the place

[Lenny]

This is a very good indication as why we need to keep our equipment clean and dry before we move from one water body to the next.

[Conor]

Yikes. Trout killers we don't even know much about.

[SilverDoctor]

I've been reading about Whirling Disease since the 80's. Affects Trout and Salmon & often breaks out in Salmon farms and sometimes is imported with private hatchery stock. It's now found in at least 20 states, including West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Michigan and most western states. . The water-borne parasite (Myxobolus cerebralis) may not directly kill trout, but fish heavily infested can become deformed or exhibit the erratic tail-chasing behavior from which the disease gets its name. Eventually, heavily infected young fish may die.

 

The parasite has been confirmed in 13 of Colorado's 15 major river drainages, including the Colorado, South Platte, Gunnison, Arkansas and Rio Grande rivers, as well as in a number of state hatcheries. Once the disease parasite is established in the wild, it can persist indefinitely, depending on environmental conditions.

 

There are now massive river closures in Yellowstone see my post here.

 

[DonAndersen]

Add to the list:

 

New Zealand Mud Snails: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Invasives/Species/NZmudsnail

 

Add to the list Goldfish and Asian Mudsnails: http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/goldfish-and-prussian-carp-threaten-bow-river-s-ecosystem-1.1867792

 

And just so the lake fishermen enjoy the bounty of invasives, we have http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/Zebra-mussels-creeping-into--333133181.html

 

A common thread - they are all imported.

 

Keep your dirty boats/waders outta Canada.

 

Don

 

 

[DonAndersen]

We should be able to dunk visiting Angler's in sheep dip to kill the invasives.

 

Don

[Speycaster]

Here in BC we have brain dead parents that say to their kids " oh lets take the goldfish down to this lake and release them as they are too big for their jar ". It should be legal to hold all of them underwater until the bubbles stop.