Jessica’s Pond to Close Permanently Due to Invasive Species Detection

February 19, 2026
7:17 am

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Imagine a serene fishing spot in Wyoming's Casper Region, a go-to for anglers casting lines and unwinding—now doomed to be bulldozed into oblivion because of tiny invaders from halfway around the world. Jessica's Pond is getting permanently shuttered this month by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department after tests confirmed New Zealand mudsnails, those prolific pests that hitchhike on gear and explode in numbers, threatening native ecosystems. The fix? Fill 'er up with dirt to quarantine the infestation near the critical Dan Speas Fish Hatchery. Fisheries Chief Alan Osterland isn't mincing words: these snails spread like wildfire, and with Yesness Pond as the suggested substitute, it's a pragmatic call to protect broader waters. But let's zoom out—this isn't just a local pond's funeral; it's a stark reminder of government's iron-fisted grip on public resources when invasive threats rear their heads. In a state like Wyoming, where outdoor freedoms are sacred and the Second Amendment ethos runs deep, we see parallels that should give 2A patriots pause. Just as mudsnails justify erasing a community asset overnight with no recourse for users, anti-gun zealots push for invasive species bans on AR-15s or standard-capacity mags, claiming rapid spread endangers the public good. One day it's a hatchery at risk; the next, it's your right to bear arms near a school zone or national park. The slippery slope is real: if bureaucrats can bury a pond on a dime to stop proliferation, what's stopping them from filling in ranges or confiscating firearms under the guise of ecological or safety imperatives? The implications ripple wide for the 2A community. This saga underscores why vigilance matters—public lands are our proving grounds for self-reliance, hunting heritage, and armed stewardship of nature. Support Wyoming's pro-2A lawmakers pushing back against federal overreach, like those defending shooters' access amid wildlife management dramas. Hit up Yesness Pond instead, pack your sidearm responsibly (Wyoming's constitutional carry shines here), and keep fighting to ensure no invasive label ever sticks to our God-given rights. Fish on, freedom fighters.

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Imagine a serene fishing spot in Wyoming’s Casper Region, a go-to for anglers casting lines and unwinding—now doomed to be bulldozed into oblivion because of tiny invaders from halfway around the world. Jessica’s Pond is getting permanently shuttered this month by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department after tests confirmed New Zealand mudsnails, those prolific pests that hitchhike on gear and explode in numbers, threatening native ecosystems. The fix? Fill ‘er up with dirt to quarantine the infestation near the critical Dan Speas Fish Hatchery. Fisheries Chief Alan Osterland isn’t mincing words: these snails spread like wildfire, and with Yesness Pond as the suggested substitute, it’s a pragmatic call to protect broader waters.

But let’s zoom out—this isn’t just a local pond’s funeral; it’s a stark reminder of government’s iron-fisted grip on public resources when invasive threats rear their heads. In a state like Wyoming, where outdoor freedoms are sacred and the Second Amendment ethos runs deep, we see parallels that should give 2A patriots pause. Just as mudsnails justify erasing a community asset overnight with no recourse for users, anti-gun zealots push for invasive species bans on AR-15s or standard-capacity mags, claiming rapid spread endangers the public good. One day it’s a hatchery at risk; the next, it’s your right to bear arms near a school zone or national park. The slippery slope is real: if bureaucrats can bury a pond on a dime to stop proliferation, what’s stopping them from filling in ranges or confiscating firearms under the guise of ecological or safety imperatives?

The implications ripple wide for the 2A community. This saga underscores why vigilance matters—public lands are our proving grounds for self-reliance, hunting heritage, and armed stewardship of nature. Support Wyoming’s pro-2A lawmakers pushing back against federal overreach, like those defending shooters’ access amid wildlife management dramas. Hit up Yesness Pond instead, pack your sidearm responsibly (Wyoming’s constitutional carry shines here), and keep fighting to ensure no invasive label ever sticks to our God-given rights. Fish on, freedom fighters.

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