ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT The Wyoming aquatic invasive species (AIS) program started in 2010 with a focus on legislation, watercraft inspections, and outreach. Legislation has been instrumental in development of aprogram and in interdiction authority to facilitate the watercraft inspection portion of the program. Legislation continues to help prevent the spread of AIS to Wyoming through mandatory inspections of watercraft entering the state. Since the start of the program, over 200,000 inspections have been conductedand 36 watercrafts with attached dreissenid mussels have been intercepted. Outreach remains the foundation for the program with the goal of educating all water users to drain, clean, and dry their watercraft and equipment to prevent the spread of AIS. This multifaceted approach has so far succeeded in preventing new species from being introduced to Wyoming waters and in slowing the spread of existingspecies. The program continues to change and adapt as the threat of new AIS appear on the horizon.
