Mosquito fish are killing Utah chubs

PROVO (AP) — A Brigham Young University study has concluded what many have believed for some time: fish brought into Utah to combat mosquitoes are killing native fish.

For decades, thousands of imported mosquito fish have been used to protect Utah County residents from mosquitoes.

But the BYU study says the fish are killing one of Utah's most threatened native fishes, the least chub.

The once-abundant chubs have all but disappeared over the last 50 years.

BYU ecology professor Russ Rader says there's only about three to six healthy populations left in small springs in the west desert.