Outdoors Briefs

A parasite that causes young trout to chase their tails until they die or are eaten by predators has shown up for the first time in Washington.

The parasite, which causes whirling disease, has been detected in fish from the Grande Ronde River near Asotin, and likely migrated from Oregon, state officials said last week.

Although they are carrying the parasite, Washington fish haven’t yet developed the disease, which is blamed for decimating some rainbow trout populations in Montana.

California, Colorado, Idaho and Oregon also have reported the disease, although it has not caused many problems in those states, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife said.

There is no known cure.

“They can’t avoid predators and they can’t feed,” agency spokesman Jeff Weathersby said of fish afflicted with the disease.

There are no reports of humans suffering ill-effects from eating or handling infected fish, state officials said. But the agency is asking outdoorsmen to take steps to prevent the spread to other waterways.

Most of the precautions involve removing mud from boats, boots and fishing equipment, since the disease is caused by a parasite that lives in small worms that dwell in the sediments of rivers and ponds. Other precautions are transporting only dead fish, refraining from dumping fish entrails, bones and other parts into state waters, and refraining from transporting aquatic plants.

The state has already been testing for the disease in fish hatcheries.

The Grande Ronde River flows north from Oregon, through a small portion of the southeast corner of Washington, before flowing into the Snake River. Parasites were also found in a tributary, Cottonwood Creek.

The parasite invades the cartilage of young wild trout and salmon and can cause skeletal deformities and nerve damage that causes fish to appear to chase their tail.

Trail meeting tonight

Proposals for developing a trail on the abandoned railroad bed between Spokane County’s Fish Lake Park and Pasco will be held tonight at the Cheney High School Cafeteria, 460 N. 6th St.

The Washington Parks and Recreation Department has suggested laying a 12-foot wide strip of crushed rock for 119 miles from Ice Harbor Dam to Cheney. The trail would be paved for 3.5 miles from Cheney to Fish Lake.

Plans include rest areas and primitive campsites.

Banquet for ducks

The Kootenai Valley Chapter of Ducks Unlimited will hold its 15th annual fund-raising banquet Friday at 5:30 p.m. at the Boundary County Fairgrounds in Bonners Ferry.

The event includes dinner, an auction, prizes and a chance to contribute to the nation’s leading wetlands conservation group, said banquet organizer Dan Pennington.

Info: Larry Napier, (208) 267-3139.

Commission to set seasons

Shorter, more restrictive seasons for deer and elk along with longer seasons for bears and cougar hunters are among proposals that will be considered by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission during its meeting Friday and Saturday at Cavanaugh’s 4th Avenue motel in Spokane.

The commission will have to factor in the impacts of Initiative 655, which banned use of hounds and bait for hunting bears and cougars, in setting all hunting seasons for next year.

Elk hunting proposals call for eliminating the rule that forces hunters who draw special permits to hold back from hunting for 3 days after the general elk season opens.

The meetings begin at 11:30 a.m. Friday in the motel’s Glacier Rooms. Saturday’s session begins at 9 a.m.

, DataTimes