Fish & Game: Despite Earlier Statement, Idaho Falls Fish Deaths Still A Mystery

Idaho Fish and Game officials are continuing their investigation into the death of fish stocked at Ryder Park Pond in Idaho Falls early this month.

Fish and Game Department spokesman Mike Keckler in Boise says an earlier statement about the possible cause of the death of the trout due to a pesticide was premature.

Regional Director Steve Schmidt said, “We have great concern and we are investigating, but we do not know the cause of the deaths of the fish and are awaiting test results from the laboratory.”

Idaho Falls farmer Curt Jenkins, who cultivates the land adjacent the pond, said he did apply a cereal leaf beetle pesticide on his malt barley crop land May 12. But he claimed the application happened well after the fish began to die.