Whirlin Twirlin Death Ride

Whirlin Twirlin Death Ride is the first of my Designs for a Series of Natural Resource Awareness Illustration Project

The series subjects are related to Leave No Trace Principles, based on my research, interpretation and lessons learned through my certification for LNT.

This illustration is tied to LNT Principle No.6 “Respect Wildlife” Fishing is part of the recreational aspect of the outdoors and there are ways to promote respecting wildlife by responsibly dispatching and cleaning of your catch. Whirling Disease (Myxobolus Cerebralis) is a parasite that begins its life by being eaten by worms the worms is then eaten by the fish and once the fish gets infected, the parasite attacks the cartilage and skin of the young trout and begins to deform it until it can only swim in circles and dies. Whirling Disease has affected a lot of the trout of colorado except for the Brown Trout, (I guess they are built different). New breeding of the Rainbow Trout has been released to the wild that has a higher tolerance to the disease. Ways that anglers can help prevent the spread of the disease is by always thoroughly cleaning equipment, never dispose of entrails into the waterways, and never move fish from one body of water to the other.