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What is Whirling Disease? A microscopic parasite that
causes the disease attacks the cartilage in the head and
spine of your fingerling trout. Fully infected fish
may display a whirling behavior, develop a black tail and/or
die. In recent years, whirling disease has been
showing up in more and more waters and we, as fisherman and
fisherwomen, need to slow down the spread by doing our
share.
There have been no reports of people suffering ill
effects from either eating infected fish or from coming into
contact with the parasite.
The parasite may easily be spread throughout a watershed
by transporting mud or water from one waterway to another.
The following is a list of actions that will help slow
the spread of whirling disease:
- Clean mud off of all equipment, including boats,
trailers, waders, boots and float tubes before leaving
the lake or river.
- Do not transport any river or lake water in coolers,
buckets, boats or live wells from one river basin to
another.
- Disinfect equipment with a solution of 3/4 cup
chlorine bleach per gallon of water to destroy the
parasite.
- Don't transport live fish from one body of water to
another. In addition to this activity being highly
illegal, it can also spread whiling disease.
- Don't dispose of fish heads, skeletons or entrails in
any body of water. Fish parts should be disposed
of in the garbage or by burning.
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