WYOMING — A watercraft traveling from Oklahoma to Montana was recently stopped at a Wyoming aquatic invasive species (AIS) checkpoint and found to have live zebra mussels attached to the boat’s hull.
The boat was recently purchased near Lake Oologah, Oklahoma, a body of water known to be infested with zebra mussels, per the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD). The boat had been removed from the water 24 hours prior to transport. According to a Tuesday news release from WGFD, officials identified the mussels and flagged the watercraft for quarantine during an inspection near Cheyenne.
“To ensure the vessel did not enter waterways prematurely, the boat owner worked with Wyoming and Montana officials to ensure a formal watercraft notice was issued to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP),” reads WGFD’s statement. “The craft was documented and physically sealed, and a notification tag was attached to the boat requiring it to undergo professional decontamination before it can be legally launched in any waterbody.”
The owner of the boat agreed to work with officials for decontamination and completing transport to Montana. Before the physical seal can be removed from the boat, it must pass an AIS inspection through Montana FWP. According to WGFD, Wyoming does not currently have any known populations of zebra mussels — it is one of just five states in the continental U.S. without a population. Zebra mussels can reproduce aggressively, rapidly infiltrate water, remove nutrients and plankton from water, and clog pipes and waterways.
“This interception is a great reminder to remain vigilant year-round for invasive mussel transport and is a great example of the strength of communication and coordination between AIS programs to ensure protection of all Western waterways,” said WGFD AIS Coordinator Josh Leonard. “Public education about AIS, inspection techniques and proper boat maintenance, including ‘clean, drain and dry’ practice guidelines, is vital to safeguarding Wyoming’s waters.”
