In recent years, the spread of whirling disease has become a serious management issue for hatcheries rearing trout. Whirling disease is a microscopic parasite that uses trout as part of its life cycle. In the early stages of its life cycle, the parasite bores into a young trouts head, causing neurological problems. The trout's nervous system then becomes inhibited and the fish displays outer symptoms, such as a darken tail and erratic swimming. Most fish with whirling disease will have a shortened life span, resulting in reduced trout populations. There are no known health risks for humans who eat whirling disease infected trout.
Hotchkiss National Fish Hatchery is one of the few public fish hatcheries in western Colorado to be certified whirling disease free. Due to its disease-free status, the hatchery is now assisting the Colorado Division of Wildlife by stocking disease-free trout in additional lakes, streams, and reservoirs in western Colorado. These careful management efforts sustain and promote healthy whirling disease free trout populations.
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