Live mussels caught at border

Wyoming Game & Fish has confirmed that live zebra mussels have been intercepted at the border for the first time this year.

The watercraft was intercepted at the Beulah check station on September 22 when the owner stopped for an inspection.

Inspectors immediately decontaminated the watercraft and removed zebra mussels in multiple water intakes, along the pontoon and in other areas of the boat.

According to Game & Fish, the watercraft had been moored for several months at Pactola Reservoir in South Dakota, where mussels were discovered in 2022.

Since that time, due to the reservoir’s proximity to Wyoming and how common it is for boaters to use both lakes, Game & Fish has been exercising vigilance in an effort to keep this state as one of the few left in the nation with no detections of the invasive species in its waters.

Any watercraft that is transported into Wyoming must undertake a mandatory inspection for aquatic invasive species, performed by a certified AIS inspector before launching on any Wyoming waters.

Concerned that many boaters frequent waters on both sides of the state line, Game & Fish increased the hours at its check stations in 2023, a change from the year before when temporary boat ramp closures and other restrictions were put in place at Keyhole, as well as LAK and Glendo.

In Crook County, check stations have been made available at Paradise Foods in Pine Haven and at the Welcome Center near Beulah.

Game & Fish has pointed out that, if this inspection station program had not been expanded, the boat may have gone unnoticed.

“When the AIS Program launched in 2010, our stations were only open for the main boating season,” said Josh Leonard, AIS Coordinator, in a press release.

“In the last few years, given the increased threat of AIS we recognize the need to stay open into the shoulder seasons, when the bulk of boaters are off the water. Situations like this demonstrate the threat is at our borders – knocking on Wyoming’s door. Everyone in Wyoming, or coming to Wyoming, should be concerned and get involved.”

Zebra mussels can spread easily, even in their microscopic state, from just a little water left standing on a boat. The invasive species can cause significant damage to freshwater ecosystems, according to Game & Fish, including damage to property, ruining shorelines, harming fish populations and a decline in tourism.

They can also clog dam systems, water pipes, irrigation systems and treatment facilities. Game & Fish states that an infestation in one of Wyoming’s water treatment facilities could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.

Adult mussels can begin reproducing as soon as they hit the water if the conditions are right, so it would be easy for a watercraft harboring these animals to start a new population.

“Our inspectors see thousands of boats every year,” said Reed Moore, AIS Specialist for the Sheridan region, in a press release.

“Since the discovery of zebra mussels in Pactola, our inspectors at Beulah have conducted hundreds of decontaminations. Over 50% of the watercraft inspected there are considered high risk for transporting AIS. Luckily the risk of this watercraft was minimized by our technicians and compliant boaters.” 

According to Game & Fish statistics, over 73,000 boats have been inspected in Wyoming this year and 1121 decontaminations have been completed. In addition, 43 boats containing non-viable mussels have been intercepted.

Watercraft transported into Wyoming must continue to undergo a mandatory inspection until November 30. The season will reopen on March 1.

State law mandates that all watercraft must stop at an AIS inspection station, even if they stopped at one prior or do not intend to launch in Wyoming. This rule applies to all motorized watercraft, as well as non-motorized watercraft such as kayaks, canoes, rafts and paddleboards. 

Game & Fish also requests that anyone who interacts with the waters of Wyoming practice Clean, Drain, Dry procedures, especially if you are planning to use equipment in a different body of water.