WYOMING — As summer temperatures heat up, water-based recreation becomes more and more enticing. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) is urging anyone using boats, kayaks and inflatable rafts in the state to brush up on their aquatic invasive species (AIS) prevention knowledge.
Zebra and quagga mussels — both highly invasive species — have been detected in water systems within a day’s drive of Yellowstone National Park. Last summer, a boat carrying invasive mussels was stopped at a check station in Grand Teton National Park (GTNP). In March of this year, a watercraft traveling through the state was found to have live zebra mussels attached to the boat’s hull.
All watercraft transported into the state from March 1 through Nov. 30 (plus watercraft that launched in mussel-infested waters in the last 30 days) must undergo mandatory AIS inspection before hitting the water, per WGFD. Boaters who come across an AIS check station on their route of travel must stop, even if they’ve been inspected already.
Recall that any watercraft used in state waters is required to display a valid 2026 AIS decal:
- Residents: $10 for motorized; $5 for non-motorized.
- Non-residents: $30 for motorized; $15 for non-motorized.
- Note from WGFD: Non-motorized inflatable watercraft 10 feet or less and stand-up paddleboards are exempt from the decal requirement but are still subject to mandatory inspections if entering from out-of-state.
Those looking to launch in GTNP and/or Yellowstone National Park should be aware that the parks have their own boating guidelines. In GTNP, all watercraft — motorized and non-motorized, including stand-up paddleboards — must have a Grand Teton boat permit. The permit must be purchased each year before the watercraft gets in the water. Purchase permits online at recreation.gov or in person at the visitor centers in Moose and Colter Bay during summer operations. Watercraft must stop at a park AIS inspection station on the way into the park. Inspection stations, open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., are located just before the GTNP entrance in Moose and just after the GTNP entrance in Moran.
Up in Yellowstone, all watercraft, including angler float tubes and paddleboards, must pass a Yellowstone AIS inspection to receive a permit prior to launching. A 30-day dry time is required for all sailboats and certain motorized boats (inboard, inboard/outboard, or inboard jet drives). Boats with outboard motors and non-motorized boats are exempt from the 30-day dry time requirement. Find AIS checkpoints at the Bridge Bay, Grant and Lewis Lake ranger stations from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
WGFD urges all boaters to follow three simple steps every time they leave the water:
- CLEAN: Remove all plants, mud, and debris from the boat, trailer, and equipment, especially waders and boots.
- DRAIN: Drain all water from the hull, livewell, and bilge. Leave the drain plug out during transport.
- DRY: Allow the watercraft to dry completely before launching in a different body of water.
See the WGFD website to learn more AIS info, to purchase decals, and to find checkpoint locations and hours of operation statewide, including in the parks.
