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Game & Fish
Wastewater testing indicates no evidence of zebra mussels in municipal systems
WGF tested water samples from several Wyoming cities
By Sara DiRienzo, Wyoming Game and Fish
No DNA evidence of invasive zebra mussels was found in recent municipal wastewater testing throughout Wyoming. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department tested water samples from Cheyenne, Laramie, Casper, Sheridan, Gillette and Rock Springs for a three-month period from the first week in March through June, following the discovery of zebra mussels in moss balls, a popular aquarium plant.
“These initial test results are promising,” said Brian Nesvik, director of Game and Fish. “We’re glad to get negative results but we know zebra mussels are hearty and their life cycle is long. Continued monitoring remains important before we confidently know that zebra mussels have not spread in Wyoming.”
Game and Fish collaborated with the Wyoming Department of Health to test water samples that were already collected for COVID-19 testing. The samples were tested at the Game and Fish Wildlife Forensic and Fish Health Lab in Laramie. The Game and Fish lab will continue to test water samples collected by the Department of Health for the foreseeable future.
Game and Fish has also begun testing natural waters throughout the state. This testing occurs annually to look for zebra and quagga mussels, along with other aquatic invasive species. The monitoring effort will continue through October, and has been expanded to additional waters.
Since March, Game and Fish and the Wyoming Department of Agriculture, with the support of other state agencies, have been responding to the discovery of zebra mussels on moss balls. The organizations are part of an emergency response team conveyed by Wyoming Gov. Gordon to protect Wyoming’s natural resources and infrastructure.
“Wyoming was one of the most proactive responders when zebra mussels were identified on moss balls, and it was an issue that impacted 48 states,” Nesvik said. “We led robust communication efforts, were the first state to issue a quarantine order for moss balls and put this monitoring into action. We’re grateful for the collaboration from all agencies who have helped respond quickly and who are invested in keeping zebra mussels out of Wyoming.”
Moss balls remain under a quarantine order, and people with moss balls and aquariums are still encouraged to avoid pouring water down their drains or flushing plants. Instead, aquarists should boil their aquarium water for 10 minutes before pouring outside away from natural water.
“Never pour your aquarium water into a pond, river or lake or let any pets loose into the wild,” said Josh Leonard, Game and Fish AIS coordinator. “It can have devastating impacts to Wyoming’s water.”
For more information on aquatic invasive species and the efforts to keep AIS out of Wyoming visit the Game and Fish website. n
G&F seeks information on mule deer poaching south of Afton
Jackson - The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is seeking any information regarding a mule deer buck that was illegally shot along Highway 89 between the towns of Afton and Cokeville, Wyoming, between 11:00-11:40 a.m. on Tuesday, August 17. Cokeville Game Warden Cody Schoonover received multiple reports of an injured buck mule deer, possibly hit by a motor vehicle, laying at the Packstring Creek trailhead approximately 23 miles south of Afton. Warden Schoonover arrived to the scene at 11:45 a.m. and found the deer had been illegally killed and the head removed.
Anyone with possible information regarding this poaching incident, or who was in the area and may have noted suspicious vehicles or activities, is encouraged to call Cokeville Game Warden Cody Schoonover at 307-279-3466, the stop poaching hotline at 1-877-WGFD-TIP (1-877-943-3847) or the Green River Game and Fish office at 1-800-843-8096.
Any information leading to the arrest and conviction may result in a reward of up to $5,000.00. n
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department invited hunters, landowners and other interested persons to attend one of two public meetings to discuss chronic wasting disease (CWD) and potential management options for several hunt areas in the eastern portion of the Big Horn Basin. The discussion focused on deer hunt areas 164, 41 and 47, but deer hunt areas 35, 37, 39 and 40 were also discussed.
CWD was first detected 17 years ago in the area and has spread across most of the Big Horn Basin. High prevalence rates are now being documented in some deer hunt areas, particularly those along the Bighorn, Greybull and Shoshone Rivers.
“Local Game and Fish managers are interested in beginning conversations about potential management options to hopefully slow the spread and reduce the prevalence of the disease,” said Bart Kroger, Worland area wildlife biologist. “We encourage anyone who is concerned about CWD to attend a meeting.”
During the meetings, wildlife managers provided an overview of CWD, discuss implementation of the statewide CWD management plan and provided information on the prevalence of the disease in local deer herds and how it may be impacting local deer populations.
“The goal from these meetings is to gauge the public’s interest and concern for CWD locally,” Kroger said. “This is the beginning of a long-term management process that we hope will garner local interest and help guide future management decisions.”
During a recent process related to the development of a statewide CWD plan, hunters voiced that doing nothing about CWD is unacceptable. Any management actions taken will be done with public buy-in and participation, so assistance from hunters, landowners and the general public is critically important.
Meetings were held in Greybull on Aug. 23 and Worland on Aug. 24. n
Check online for fire restrictions on Game and Fish lands
By Sara DiRienzo, Wyoming Game and Fish
Fire danger remains high throughout Wyoming due to hot, dry temperatures. To help protect wildlife habitat and other public lands, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department has implemented fire restrictions on many department-managed properties where people camp and recreate. In an effort to keep the public informed, Game and Fish recently launched two new interactive ways to check for fire restrictions on the department website.
Anyone planning a trip to a wildlife habitat management area (WHMA) or public access area (PAA) can check a comprehensive listing of fire restrictions on the new Game and Fish fire ban web page. Restrictions are updated automatically, as soon as they are set in place. Restrictions are also displayed on individual WHMA and PAA web pages.
Adhering to fire restrictions is one of the ways the public can help prevent forest fires, which in dry years, can be catastrophic. Game and Fish Ray Bredehoft, chief of the Wyoming Game and Fish Habitat and Access Branch said the mid-summer hot and dry climate only increases the possibilities of fires caused by campfires not only at WHMAs and PAAs but on all lands open to the public in the state.
“An action as simple as leaving a campfire’s warm ashes or littering a still-smoldering cigarette can cause a fire on the landscape. In July and August, they can grow quickly,” said Bredehoft. “Remaining cautious with anything that has an open flame or can burn, including stoves, matches and lighters to name a few, is extremely important for Wyoming’s habitat and wildlife.”
Campfires, stoves and other incendiary camping supplies are permitted on WHMAs as long as there are no restrictions or a fire ban in place. Campers must ensure the place they choose to have a fire does not threaten, cause damage to, or burn any property on the WHMA, and must always remain under control.
“If allowed, campfires need to be attended at all times and completely extinguished,” said Bredehoft. “This includes smoking materials like cigarettes.”
Littering and fireworks are not permitted on WHMAs. Campers and day users should review all regulations for WHMAs and PAAs on the Game and Fish website before setting up camp.
To ensure a campfire is completely extinguished, campers need to have plenty of water on hand. To make sure a fire is out: • Allow wood to burn completely to ash. • Pour lots of water on the fire to drown all embers. • Pour water until the hissing sound stops. • Scrape sticks and logs to remove any embers. • Stir the ashes and embers with a shovel until everything is wet and cold to the touch. n
Fire restrictions have been put in place on many properties where people camp and recreate.
