Wildlife experts report whirling disease wipes out 40,000 trout at SW Virginia hatchery

The discovery of a parasite-borne disease at the source of Southwest Virginia’s trout farm will likely decrease the freshwater fish population in the long term.

The Department of Wildlife Resources said 40,000 trout were euthanized at their hatchery in Marion when testing revealed the presence of whirling disease.

It’s a sickness caused by the parasite entering the fish’s head and spine, then causing damage to the skeleton and brain, and those injuries make the fish swim in a circular motion. DWR experts said regional fishermen will see a 20 percent drop in trout streams, and the statewide reduction is 5 percent.

(IMAGE: From Pixabay collection of royalty free pics / Barbara Jackson)