Idaho State Department of Agriculture

For the first time in 40 years, the federal Environmental Protection Agency issued an emergency suspension of a pesticide. The EPA found Dacthal, also known as DCPA, can significantly affect the health of unborn babies.

Federal officials suspect the virus spreads through cows’ milk, but Leibsle highlighted uncertainties like which species of birds might be infecting cattle, the duration of the illness in animals and the length of virus shedding.

Both herds detected for with virus are in Cassia County. But the second one is not linked to any cows that were shipped from another state with a positive case.

The state won't know until May or June whether the chemical deployed in the Snake River worked to kill all the mussels.

The cows started experiencing symptoms shortly after the farm received a shipment of cattle from an operation in Texas, where animals later tested positive.

Gov. Brad Little's budget, unveiled earlier this week, included $6.6 million to control the invasive mussels

The Idaho Wolf Depredation Control Board recently approved agreements with ranchers to kill wolves for the protection of livestock. Some of the agreements say efforts will include shooting wolves from helicopters or planes on Forest Service land.

The rapid timeline from when the Idaho State Department of Agriculture found invasive quagga mussel larvae in the Snake River in September to when it deployed a chemical treatment two weeks later, was unparalleled in the world of invasive mussel control.

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture is releasing a copper-based chemical into the Snake River to target invasive quagga mussels and larvae.

The copper-based chemical Natrix can kill quagga mussels at all life stages. It will be introduced to the Snake River near Twin Falls.