News – Sheridan Media
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The Wyoming Game and Fish Department reports they are strongly urging the public to refrain from releasing pet fish, such as goldfish, into local waterways.
As goldfish are often a prize at many fairs and carnivals, families may return home with a pet they’re unable to keep. Game and Fish Sheridan Region Aquatic Invasive Species Specialist Reed Moore said releasing unwanted pets can have detrimental impacts on the local environment and is against the law in the Cowboy State.
According to Moore, some nonnative animals that residents have as pets and release can outcompete regional local wildlife and overrun those populations. One example is goldfish – when released into a pond, they reproduce quickly and can become the dominant species in a water. The Jackson Regional Office reports goldfish are resilient; they can not only survive Wyoming’s harsh winters but also reproduce rapidly, creating nuisance populations that are difficult for the department to manage. By aggressively competing with native species for food and resources, goldfish disrupt aquatic ecosystems and can introduce harmful diseases.
Moore said releasing unwanted pets could also potentially spread disease from pets to wild animal populations.
In other cases, a nonnative animal may not survive in the wild – unable to find food, shelter, protection from predators. This is cruel to the individual animal, Moore said.
Game and Fish recommend following the C.A.R.E. guidelines.
Contact the place where you purchased the pet to see if they will take it back.
Act responsibly by never letting animals or plants loose into the wild.
Research other places that may be able to provide a new home for your pet. Pet stores, zoos, aquariums, science centers, animal shelters, and humane societies may be able to help.
Euthanize the animal in a humane way. It may be hard to consider, but this option is far kinder than letting it starve to death in the wild or destroy the homes of native animals.
The department also urges residents to always freeze unwanted plants and throw them out in the trash.
For more information about exotic species that should not be released into the wild, the environmental consequences of doing so, and how to properly dispose of these species, please visit the Game and Fish “Don’t Let it Loose” webpage.
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Last modified: August 1, 2026