Yellowstone National Park shuts three rivers to fishing amid heat

On July 15, the National Park Service announced that the Madison, Firehole and Gibbon rivers in Yellowstone National Park will be closed to fishing for an indefinite period. Officials said water temperatures had peaked at 80‑86 °F, a range lethal to the park's native trout, and dead fish have been reported in the Firehole River.

The closures, which apply 24 hours a day, are intended to protect the wild trout fisheries until conditions improve. Experts noted that trout are ectotherms, so high water temperatures reduce oxygen levels and can be fatal. The three rivers are popular angling sites near major attractions such as Old Faithful.