Parasite found in Utah's Strawberry Reservoir

HEBER CITY -- The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has discovered a potentially deadly parasite to fish in one of the state's most popular trout fisheries.

Whirling disease spores were found in two of 60 kokanee salmon that were collected from Strawberry Reservoir near Heber City this fall.

While the disease can be fatal to small trout and salmon, DWR officials said they're encouraged because it primarily affects fish much smaller than most found in the reservoir. They also said that many of the rainbow trout and Bear Lake cutthroat trout in the reservoir are more resistant to whirling disease than others.

"The disease is not a fatal blow to the trout fishery at Strawberry," said Roger Wilson, chief of the division's aquatic section. "There is life after whirling disease."

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