WGF: Goldfish Can Cost Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars to Remove

While appearing on Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse, Wyoming Game and Fish Department Public Information Specialist Christina Schmidt wished to remind the public not to release any goldfish or other animals when they are no longer wanted as pets. 

Many people quickly tire of goldfish or other small animals such as turtles, lizards, and other little critters. But Schmidt reminds the public it is illegal to release these animals into the wilds of Wyoming. 

C. Schmidt  

Goldfish in particular can quickly take over a water body where they are illegally released and impact entire fisheries. 

C. Schmidt  

Goldfish have had to be removed from locations in Laramie, Cody, Rock Springs and more – where they had been illegally released and quickly populated the water. This costs not only money but resources and time to repopulate these fisheries with native species, as removing goldfish often requires killing all fish in a water body and relying on local hatcheries to restock it.

Schmidt urges the public to instead call the Sheridan Regional Office and speak to Sheridan Region Aquatic Invasive Species Specialist Reed Moore, if you have questions about disposing of goldfish or other pets.

To contact the Sheridan Regional Office, click here.