Starting on April 15, all boats entering Wyoming will have to be inspected to ensure that they’re not carrying any aquatic invasive species.
Until now, inspections were only required for boats that had been in waters that were known to be infested. But Beth Bear with the Game and Fish Department says they were worried that boaters could be in infested waters without knowing it.
She says invasives like zebra mussels can cause major problems.
“They clog up pipes that deliver water – you know, municipal water supplies, irrigation – anything that moves and transports water can basically get clogged up by these mussels,” she said. “They can also drastically alter the fisheries by cutting off the base of the food web. … And then they out-compete our native species as well.”
Bear says check stations will be set up at border crossings.