CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Boating season in Wyoming is right around the corner.
On Thursday, Feb. 29, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) announced that any watercraft transported into Wyoming is required by law to undergo a mandatory aquatic invasive species (AIS) inspection from March 1 until Nov. 30. Inspections must be done by a certified AIS inspector prior to launching on any Wyoming waters.
Beginning in early March, Game and Fish AIS check stations across Wyoming will resume seasonal operations. All boaters must stop when encountering an open AIS check station on their route of travel.
“Wyoming is one of the few states left in the nation that hasn’t detected the invasive zebra or quagga mussels in our waters,” AIS coordinator Josh Leonard said in an announcement. “Game and Fish is dedicated to keeping these destructive invasive species out of our state’s waters. That’s why it’s crucial that out-of-state boaters and residents who have taken their boats out of Wyoming get their watercraft inspected before launching on any Wyoming waters.”
According to the WGFD, the best defense against AIS is vigilance by the public. Watercraft owners can make their check station stop quicker if their watercraft are clean, drained and dry upon arrival. All visible vegetation must be removed from a watercraft/trailer once it leaves the water. Boaters must drain all water from watercraft after leaving a water including all compartments. All bilge/ballast/live well plugs must be removed from the watercraft while transported by land in the state.
Boaters are encouraged to plan ahead for inspections:
- If the watercraft was used on a water suspect or positive for invasive mussels in the last 30 days, it must be inspected prior to launching year-round and may require decontamination. If boaters entering Wyoming do not encounter an open AIS check station on their route of travel, it is the boater’s responsibility to seek out an inspection before launching on any Wyoming waterway.
- Along with watercraft registration, watercraft used on Wyoming waters must have an AIS Decal. A Wyoming AIS decal must be displayed on all watercraft (including rentals) using Wyoming waters with the exception of both soft and hard-sided stand-up paddle boards, amphibious vehicles propelled by wheels and non-motorized inflatable watercraft 10 feet in length or less. While these watercraft are not required to have a decal, they still require an inspection when coming from out of state.
- Boats must stop at established check stations each time a boater passes a check station. Call ahead for an inspections available at Game and Fish regional offices.
- A watercraft can launch without further inspection if the watercraft has a properly affixed seal applied by an authorized inspector and is accompanied by a valid seal receipt during transit. The person transporting the watercraft can remove the seal immediately prior to launching on the destination water and must retain the seal and valid seal receipt while on the water.
- Even if a watercraft has been previously inspected and has a valid seal and seal receipt, boaters are still required to stop at any open AIS check station. Having the properly affixed seal and valid seal receipt will expedite the inspection process.
Contact a Game and Fish Office, certified inspection location or private authorized inspector to arrange a watercraft inspection. A listing of inspectors and a map of check stations can be seen here.
