Ten Sleep fish hatchery to harvest 1.2 million rainbow trout eggs

TEN SLEEP – The Ten Sleep Fish Hatchery will host an open house this Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. so that the public can watch and help hatchery staff sort and prepare 1.2 million rainbow trout eggs for shipment across the United States.

Ten Sleep Hatchery Superintendent Bart Burningham explained the process, and hopes that the public will be eager to come learn more about the hatchery's day-to-day routine. "The Boulder Rearing Station in Pinedale sends us 'green eggs' and we incubate them for a period of 44 days, then shock them at a higher temperature to break the membrane around the egg. That allows water to penetrate the egg. The bad eggs turn white."

After incubation, the eggs are run through a sorting machine. Armed with a photo sensor, the sorter identifies and rejects the bad eggs, transferring the good eggs to a chute for hand sorting and collection. Once collected, the eggs are loaded for shipment to stocking areas around the country.

"We've already shipped 400,000 eggs to Missouri, and expect to send another 300,000 before Dec. 8," noted Burningham. The Ten Sleep Hatchery has also sent 50,000 eggs to Kentucky, and 110,000 to Nebraska. Wyoming will receive the bulk of the fertilized eggs, with 1.2 million going to stock native waterways.

In the future, Burningham hopes to have days where visitors can watch more of the process, including the hatching, loading and stocking of the rainbow trout. "Giving tours and having information kiosks for visitors in the summer is one thing," said Burningham, "but it's good for people to see the process in action. I hope we generate some interest."

The hatchery will be serving refreshments for visitors on Friday and Saturday. For more information, interested parties are encouraged to call the Ten Sleep Hatchery at 307-366-2404.