Shovelnose Sturgeon May Return Home

The shovelnose sturgeon, an ancient species that reaches 3 feet long and 10 pounds, may soon return to its native waters in the Big Horn River of Wyoming.

The shovelnose is common in Montana and several other states and has been found in Wyoming’s Powder River. But it used to be widespread in Wyoming and was native to the Big Horn River before dams blocked its spawning migrations in 1965, said state fisheries biologist Tom Annear.

The department’s plan would release 120,000 young fish each year, starting this summer, from Worland to the Yellowtail Reservoir, Annear said. Spawning runs would be established up unimpeded tributaries, such as the Greybull and Nowood Rivers.

“We just wanted to make sure people realize that this is really a low impact or no-impact action that actually would benefit the economies and recreationalists, the anglers, in the Big Horn Basin,” he said. “This is not an engandered species issue. This is just a management action that’s no different from stocking any common game fish.”