Ask the Conservation Officer (CO)

by Gary Hompland, Regional Conservation Officer Question: "I saw a lot of dead yellow perch at Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir this spring. What happened?" Answer: Our regional fisheries staff collected several perch specimens for testing. From the tissue analyses, the perch suffered from a bacterial infection. The family of bacterium is a type commonly found in soil and water. Biologists also said the species of bacterium isolated in the perch would respond well to all of the antibiotics allowed to be used on food fish, but it would not be practical to treat wild fish in a reservoir. Biologists also said bacteria in this family can infect humans causing gastroenteritis-like symptoms. They recommend that anglers not consume perch that appear in a weakened condition. However, the Department's fish pathologist said anglers catching perch that act "normal" should not be afraid to thoroughly cook and eat their catch. Fisheries biologists also pointed out this fish loss coincided with the spring perch spawning season. They suggest yellow perch may have been especially susceptible to the effects of this bacterium during their weakened post-spawn condition. The perch loss caused biologists and anglers to become quite concerned about the health of the reservoir's perch population. Unfortunately there is little the Department can do to treat the entire reservoir to stop the infection. Fish that survive the infection carry a resistance to the bacteria to protect during their next exposure. Contrary to some reports, Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir was not the epicenter of the earthquake and the earthquake did not cause the perch loss. Biologists have assured anglers the population of yellow perch at Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir is still healthy and growing. If you have any further questions you may call the Magic Valley Regional Office of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game at (208)324-4350 or e-mail us at the Fish and Game web site at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov.