Montana FWP Closes Yellowstone from Park to Laurel

August 19, 2016 By: Marshall Cutchin

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.