The Daily Sun-Up

Experiments at Shadow Mountain & Hospital Tools That Give You Chills

Oct 15, 2025
Dive into a massive biology experiment at Shadow Mountain, where the introduction of sterile tiger muskies aims to tackle invasive white suckers. The discussion reveals how these fish overtook the ecosystem and whether they could threaten local trout populations. Switching gears, learn about the alarming situation at UC Health, where a backlog of unsterilized surgical instruments raised serious biofilm risks. Hear how staffing issues led to the crisis and the measures taken to ensure ongoing oversight and safety.
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ANECDOTE

How Shadow Mountain Filled With White Suckers

  • Michael Booth described Shadow Mountain Reservoir becoming dominated by white sucker minnows after anglers dumped unused bait into the lake.
  • State biologist John Ewart and others observed that suckers now make up about 70–75% of the lake's fish biomass, crowding out trout.
INSIGHT

Sterile Tiger Muskies As A Targeted Fix

  • Colorado Parks introduced sterile tiger muskies to shift Shadow Mountain from a sucker-dominated lake to a trophy muskie fishery.
  • Tiger muskies are sterile hybrids that limit long-term spread and can coexist with mature brown trout once established.
ADVICE

Remove Escaped Muskies To Contain Experiment

  • Colorado changed rules to allow unlimited harvest of tiger muskies in Lake Granby and the channel to remove escapees from Shadow Mountain.
  • Anglers are encouraged to remove any escaped tiger muskies regardless of size to contain the experiment.
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