Posted on August 19 2016
Citing the sudden appearance of Proliferative Kidney Disease, a serious illness that impacts both whitefish and trout, this morning Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks closed the Yellowstone from the Park’s northern boundary to Laurel, Montana, which is near Billings. The closure affects all water-based recreation (fishing, wading, floating, tubing, boating, etc.). When we spoke to FWP chairman Dan Vermillion on Tuesday, he indicated that numerous dead whitefish had been spotted on the river near Livingston. Afterwards, the U.S. and Wildlife Service Fish Health Center in Bozeman released the results of tests showing the presence of the disease.