WGFD Photo
GREEN RIVER—Southwest Wyoming has a new fisheries biologist for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Green River Region.
Troy Laughlin took over as a fisheries biologist in Green River after Joe Skorupski transferred to fill a vacant position in Cody. Laughlin joins the Green River fisheries management crew, who are tasked with managing both the sport fisheries and native fisheries in southwest Wyoming.
Originally from south central Nebraska, Laughlin was raised on a small family farm where his family raised cattle, sheep, and pigs. During his youth, Laughlin spent time fishing with his family and exploring the waters within striking distance of his home, according to WGFD. As Laughlin grew up, he enjoyed fishing for the different species of fish that lived in the different waters near his home. It’s those experiences that led him to his choice to start a career in fisheries management.
Laughlin earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology and Management from the University of Wyoming in 2011. With his bachelor’s degree in hand, he was hired by the Green River fisheries management crew to work as a fisheries technician where he spent three field seasons and gained experience working for Game and Fish fisheries biologists.
With some experience under his belt, Laughlin relocated to Illinois and was accepted into the masters program at Southern Illinois University in 2013. Laughlin spent the next two years studying catfish recruitment on the Mississippi River before earning his Masters Degree in the spring of 2015.
Graduation was followed in rapid succession by the next big step in Laughlin’s life. In the summer of 2015, he married his college sweetheart and native of Rock Springs, Chelsea.
Troy and Chelsea currently live in Rock Springs.