Wildlife

Yellowstone River Closed in Montana, USA

A human-spread parasitic disease may be the cause of Friday’s Yellowstone River closure, say Montana officials. Along a 183-mile stretch, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks closed the river to the public after thousands of fish turned up dead in an alarming way.

“This kill is unprecedented in magnitude. We haven’t seen something like this in Montana,” FWP spokeswoman Andrea Jones said. “It’s one of the most serious diseases to impact whitefish and trout.”

The river is closed indefinitely from Yellowstone National Park to Highway 212 in Laurel, Montana, and includes the Boulder, Shields, and Stillwater rivers. As of now, no one can raft, fish, or swim in the area until further notice.

Friday morning, the number of dead fish counted reached 4,000, but experts are sure the real figure is much higher. The massive deaths prompted FWP officials to call for the river’s closure until a source can be confirmed. According to samples sent to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Fish Health Center in Bozeman, the fish may have died from kidney disease.

It is believed a dangerous parasite in the water is being absorbed by the fish through their gills. The organism ultimately makes its way into the kidneys, causing them to fail. The microscopic creature is found mostly in Canada, the U.S., and parts of Europe. Authorities assure the parasite is not harmful to humans.