Whirling Disease Easing In Yellowstone

Sat., July 11, 1998

From Staff

No more fish infected with whirling disease have been found in the Yellowstone River since six were found last year, experts say.

The Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department said it was hopeful whirling disease will not become a large problem for the Yellowstone drainage.

“The prognosis is still good, despite floods and the disease,” FWP fisheries biologist Joel Tohtz said Friday. “So far, you couldn’t ask for anything better.”

FWP announced in July 1997 that six of 18 fish sampled just downstream of DePuy’s Spring Creek, four miles south of Livingston, were at least lightly infected by the parasite.

But no more infected fish have been found, Tohtz said.

He said further testing is planned. Fish will be put in cages at various locations in the river to check the pervasiveness of the disease, Tohtz said. The test sites will be spots where scientists expect the parasite would likely spread.

Tohtz said the testing will go on for several years.

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