The DWR said the species at risk is called the bluehead sucker, which lives in the Millsite Reservoir. The DWR called the bluehead sucker "a species of greatest conservation need" in a social media post.

"The illegal introduction happened in the past few years, as we found several age classes in our sample," the DWR said.

According to the DWR, officials have been working to ensure a "healthy balance" in the ecosystem at the Millsite Reservoir that supports both recreation and the conservation of the bluehead sucker.

"The illegal introduction of Utah chub has put it at risk," the DWR said.

In its post, the DWR reminded Utahns that moving fish between bodies of water in Utah is illegal -- especially because those introduced fish may prey on other species, including native or endangered species.

"Bucket biology could also introduce disease into the waterbody because the fish and any water introduced have not been certified disease-free," the DWR said.

What is the Utah chub?

Utah chub is the common name for the species Gila atraria, and are often found in freshwater areas -- such as lakes or creeks, according to the website FishBase.

The fish are said to have a "deep, compressed body" with large eyes and a short snout, FishBase said.

"Introduced populations often reach great abundance and become serious competitors with sport fish, especially trout," according to a USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species fact sheet.

Utah officials have said the illegal introduction of the Utah chub at the Millsite Reservoir has put the ecosystem of the reservoir at risk.

What is the bluehead sucker?

According to the DWR's Utah species field guide, "bluehead sucker" is the common name for the species Catostomus discobolus, which is native in parts of Utah, Idaho and several other states.

The fish is said to have a modified mouth that helps it scrape algae from the surface of rocks, as it dwells at the bottom of the bodies of water it is found in.

"In Utah, bluehead suckers have been reduced in numbers and distribution due to flow alteration, habitat loss/alteration, and the introduction of nonnative fishes," the DWR said in its guide.

Utah officials said the main cause of population decline for this species is alteration to and loss of its habitats.

Why is moving fish illegal in Utah?

The DWR has asked that Utahns "Don't ditch a fish," and has also encouraged Utahns to know the law regarding moving fish.

The most important things to note are that introducing fish into Utah waters is illegal, and transporting live fish between waters is a violation of state law.

Additionally using live baitfish while fishing is illegal in Utah, and releasing any species of fish into a body of water in the state is illegal.

The DWR has an updated guidebook with the most recent fishing regulations available online.

Carbon County Sheriff Jeff Wood told ABC4.com that the incident is "absolutely a criminal case" and officers are actively searching for the suspect.

The woman who rescued the dog, Tanner Tamllos, called authorities after finding him wounded on the side of the road. Wood said investigators then contacted the last known owner of the dog who allegedly said he had given the dog to an unknown person in a Walmart parking lot and he was no longer in his possession.

Wood said they are now following a few leads. He said it is unknown at this time why or how the owner previously transferred the dog to the person in the parking lot.

When Tamllos found the dog, now named "BluJay," she said he appeared malnourished and wounded. She later learned from doctors that he had been shot through his head and the two bullets were still lodged inside him. Thanks to medical professionals and donations from people in the community and worldwide, BluJay received several surgeries and is now staying with a family in Carbon County.

While he survived the shooting, his injuries left him fully blind. Tamllos said he is eating and recovering well, but it is still too soon to know whether his health will decline in the future.

According to Utah Code, abandoning, injuring or neglecting an animal is considered animal cruelty and ranges in degrees of severity.

If an individual intentionally or knowingly abandons, injures or neglects an animal, it is considered a class B misdemeanor. If a person tortures, poisons or kills an animal, it is considered aggravated animal cruelty and can be prosecuted as a class A misdemeanor.

Knowingly or intentionally torturing an animal is the only case in which animal cruelty could be considered a third-degree felony. Torture is defined as "inflicting extreme physical pain to an animal in an especially heinous, atrocious, cruel, or exceptionally depraved manner."

In Utah, a class B misdemeanor can be punished by jail time, a fine, or both. Those convicted of a class B misdemeanor could face up to six months in jail and up to $1,000 in fines.

A third-degree felony, on the other hand, can be punished with imprisonment, a fine, or both. Imprisonment can be anywhere between zero and five years and fines can be up to $5,000.

Wednesday afternoon, Department of Public Safety officials said "a complete dam breach is not likely or anticipated," and listed several measures they are taking to mitigate the risk of a breach.

A Level 3 Emergency Situation would call for evacuation of the city of Panguitch as it means there is an imminent risk of dam failure. Fortunately, authorities say they have hope it will change to a Level 1 risk rather than progress to Level 3.

A large crack was found in the dam Monday, prompting an “urgent public safety announcement” on Tuesday night. The crack was caused by the lake's 2-5 foot expansion due to the freezing and expanding of the already high water pressure, according to officials.

The expansion caused cracking and tilting of the top portion of the dam, which was constructed as an addition to the dam in the 1930s and 40s. This leads officials to believe that should a breach occur, it would likely only break the top few feet of the dam.

For that reason, officials are releasing water to lower the level of the lake to rest below the start of the crack. They believe it could take 8-10 days to get the water below the compromised section.

Officials are also working at cracking the ice within the reservoir to release pressure and adding material to the dam to fortify it.

While the update is good news for the approximately 1,700 people living in the Panguitch area, officials say there still is a risk of dam failure and evacuation.

Officials say the city is still under evacuation notice, meaning residents should be prepared to leave if the time comes. They also are hosting a community gathering on Wednesday, April 10, to answer questions, provide resources, and outline the evacuation plan should a breach occur.

The community gathering will take place at 6 p.m. at the Panguitch High School Gymnasium located at 390 E 100 S. They also will be streaming the meeting live on Zoom.

This is a developing story. Stay tuned as ABC4 will update this article as more information becomes available.

MOAB, Utah (ABC4) -- A road is covered in water and mud and several homes are without water Wednesday due to a water main line break at the intersection of 400 North and Taylor Avenue in Moab.

City officials announced Wednesday morning that some homes on Tusher and 400 North may have their water shut off as the Moab City Water Department works to repair a 6-inch water main break. Officials estimate the repairs could take anywhere from eight to 12 hours to complete due to the amount of water damage on the roadway.

"Please drive carefully in this area while crews work to complete the repairs," officials wrote in the post.

The cause of the water main break is unknown at this time.

PANGUITCH, Utah (ABC4) -- A crack found in the Panguitch Lake Dam has led to officials limiting access to one Utah highway and Panguitch Lake.

The Garfield County Sheriff's Office said the damage to the dam was found Monday, April 8. The damage reportedly resulted in a cracking on the upper portion of the dam. GCSO along with Panguitch City officials, emergency management and the West Panguitch Irrigation Company are "monitoring the conditions."

The Sheriff's Office said the damage is not severe enough for authorities to issue any evacuation notice, but access to the lake and Highway 143 will be limited.

"As a precaution, Garfield County Sheriff's Office has closed Highway 143 and will limit all access to Panguitch Lake," said the Sheriff's Office in a press release. "Highway 143 will remain open above Panguitch Lake."

Emergency personnel stationed at the dam will closely monitor the structure's conditions. If the conditions worsen, the Sheriff's Office said an emergency notification will be made through "all available resources."

Officials did not disclose what may have caused the damage to the dam.

At around 5 a.m. on April 7, a Dodge pickup truck towing an empty flatbed trailer was heading westbound on US-6 at mile marker 223.

The pickup drifted across the center line of the highway, according to DPS, crashing head-on into an eastbound semi-truck and trailer.

The two vehicles collided passenger side to passenger side, according to DPS.

The daughter of the pickup truck driver, who was seated in the backseat on the passenger side, did not survive the impact.

The drivers of both the pickup and semi were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Drowsy driving is suspected to be the cause of this incident, according to DPS.

The identity of the victim has not been released.

No further information is available at this time.

The woman who rescued the dog, Tanner Tamllos, said the dog has made significant progress in his recovery. She said he is now eating, walking and playing again.

"He's proving everybody wrong," she said. "We went from 10% chance of life to where he's at now — playing in the backyard with three other dogs. And so it's pretty crazy that now we're here, and he's happy and being shown the love that he deserved in the first place."

Tamllos was visiting her family in Carbon County for Easter when she said she saw a dog in a ditch on the side of the road on Friday, March 29. She said he looked malnourished and as if he had been attacked by an animal. After taking him to the vet, she learned he had been shot twice in his head.

The dog, a young wirehaired vizsla whom she named BluJay, received treatment from Dr. Harmer at Castle Country Vet before being transferred to MedVet in Salt Lake County. He has undergone surgery several times to remove both the bullets and his left eye.

After this last surgery, which was highly risky, doctors called Tamllos saying she could bring him home on Thursday, April 4. When she had dropped him off initially, he was not strong enough to walk and had to be taken in on a gurney.

"All of a sudden, I see his little nose peek around the corner and he was walking, and I broke down into tears," she said.

While BluJay survived the incident and subsequent surgeries, he did not leave the shooting without permanent damage. Doctors say he is now "fully blind" and has bullet fragments littering his brain.

Doctors say removing the shrapnel would likely prove "too much for him" and have chosen to leave it in with hopes they won't move and cause brain damage. If he continues to do well and improve, Tamllos will take him back to MedVet in a few weeks for a CAT scan to check on the shards.

"We're not out of the woods right now, there is still a chance that he just hits a decline," Tamllos said.

BluJay is currently staying with her cousin's family alongside three young children and several pets. If it is a good fit for BluJay and the family, he will live there permanently. Otherwise, two other homes have offered to take him in, including Tamllos' dad.

"He's doing really well, I've gotten videos of him playing today, eating and chewing on his toys," she said.

She said the local mailman also dropped by the home to take a picture with him. When they stopped to buy dog food at Tractor Supply, people recognized them and asked to come see BluJay.

"Everybody loves him, he's such a good boy, he's so sweet."

While the community loves BluJay and has shown support through donations of all kinds, it extends much further than Carbon County.

"I had people [donate from] Louisiana, Florida, New Mexico, British Columbia, London, Canada, like all these different places, so it went even farther than our little community and our state," Tamllos said. "His story's everywhere."

She said all the current medical bills have been paid through donations, including a donation from Dr. Harmer who helped cover the remaining bill before transferring BluJay to MedVet. Those who still want to donate can access BluJay's Amazon Wishlist or donate to Tamllos' Venmo for his upcoming CAT scan costs.

"Just a huge thank you to not only our community, but people all over that have come near and far to help us do this. Without them, I could not have gotten him the care that he needed," she said.

Tamllos reported the incident to the Carbon County Sheriff's Office last Saturday who spoke with her on Easter Sunday. She has not heard back since. The CCSO told ABC4 they would have more information available next week.

Tickets will be required from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, April 1 through October 31, 2024.

The timed entry tickets are required along with your park pass or entrance fee, NPS states. You can reportedly still enter the park before 7 a.m. or after 4 p.m. without a timed entry ticket.

You can make your reservations here. Just select a date and time and you're good to go!

If you are planning on short notice, a limited number of tickets will be available one day prior to entry at 7 p.m.

"These are expected to sell out quickly and we encourage visitors to plan ahead," NPS states.

The park releases tickets on a first-come, first-served basis three months in advance. Here is the schedule for timed reservations at Arches in 2024:

• April reservations (April 1–30) open January 2 at 8 a.m. MST
• May reservations (May 1–31) open February 1 at 8 a.m. MST
• June reservations (June 1–30) open March 1 at 8 a.m. MST
• July reservations (July 1–30) open April 1 at 8 a.m. MDT
• August reservations (August 1–31) open May 1 at 8 a.m. MDT
• September reservations (September 1–30) open June 1 at 8 a.m. MDT
• October reservations (October 1–31) open July 1 at 8 a.m. MDT

When using Recreation.gov, search for “Arches National Park Timed Entry Ticket,” select the day you plan to visit the park, add it to your cart, and complete payment. After payment, you will receive an email confirmation with an attached timed entry ticket, according to NPS.

Then -- simply print, download, or screenshot your ticket.

Arches National Park has over 2,000 natural stone arches, according to NPS.

UPDATE 4/1/24 5:30 p.m.: BluJay was taken to MedVet in Salt Lake City Monday to receive a CT scan and get care from several specialists. Before traveling north, doctors said he was "up and eating" and told Tamllos he was "such a good boy."

ORIGINAL STORY: HELPER, Utah (ABC4) -- A wounded dog is on the path to recovery after a local woman said she found him in a ditch Friday afternoon with gunshot wounds between his eyes.

Tanner Tamllos, a Price native, said she was on a drive with her family when she noticed a dog standing in a ditch near Consumers Road in Helper. She said he looked malnourished and as if he had been attacked by an animal.

"He is in terrible shape and has been out there for quite some time and looks as if he has been attacked by something," she wrote in her original post about the rescue.

She said they wrapped the dog in a blanket and brought him to Castle Country Vet for care.

"He had no energy but was still fighting. We put him in the car in a warm blanket. He laid down and began to rest. He seemed to be at peace and happy to have found kind people to help him," she wrote.

After the doctors examined the dog, she said they found two bullet wounds, one lodged in his throat and another in his left eye.

"We are all outraged and shocked, just as I'm sure you all are too," she wrote after learning of the bullet wounds.

Tamllos originally said he had a 10% chance to live and that the doctors were "going to do all that they can to save it." They later were able to successfully remove the bullets in surgery and now have plans to conduct another surgery to remove his left eye.

The dog, whom Tamllos named "BluJay," survived the night, and while she says he still has a long road to recovery, the outcome is already looking much better. If BluJay continues to recover from his injuries, Tamllos told ABC4.com that he will live with either her dad or a friend who has offered to take him in.

"We would like to thank Dr. Harmer and his staff for all that they are doing and on a holiday weekend," Tamllos said.

To help pay for the medical fees, several local businesses donated gift cards for a giveaway to help raise funds. McKenzie Dotson Photography, Naturally Inspired Boutique, and Down Home Store all contributed to the fundraiser. If the money is not raised, she said she will be responsible for paying the medical bills.

For those wishing to contribute to the medical bills directly, call 385-341-4444. For more information on the fundraiser and how to donate, see Tamllos' page.

Joshua Michael Stehle, 29, of Colorado, could face several first-degree felony charges including kidnapping, false imprisonment, lewd and lascivious acts with a child, contacting a minor with intent for sex, and arranging/going to a meeting with a minor.

He is currently in Sevier County Jail in Richfield, Utah, awaiting extradition to Kern County in California.

Kern County authorities say a woman called around 5:30 a.m. on Monday, March 17, to report her 11-year-old daughter was missing. She said the child must have left the Bakersfield residence barefoot because her shoes were left behind.

Police searched the area but were unable to locate the 11-year-old. California detectives then met with the girl's friends, who told them she "was in a dating relationship with an unknown adult male possibly in his 30s, who was residing in Utah," the warrant read.

"Detectives learned [the victim] had communicated with the unknown adult male via social media. [The victim] told her friends that the unknown adult male who lived in Utah wanted to pick up [the victim] and marry her," the warrant said.

Police say they later found evidence supporting these claims after finding significant interaction between the victim and a telephone number belonging to Stehle.

Family members allegedly told police the 11-year-old had a missed call from an unknown Colorado number several days prior to the possible abduction and told her family "it was her friend 'Simon' from Utah."

Detectives were able to track Stehle's device and locate him near Salina, Utah, where local officials arrested him and placed him into custody at the Sevier County Jail several hours after the initial report. Officials say he had a firearm with him.

The girl was taken into the custody of the Utah Division of Child and Family Services and then reunited with her family in California.

After the victim returned to California, she told police she had been communicating with the man over Snapchat messaging and video calls. Police say he had allegedly taken her from her home at around 4 a.m.

While driving, the victim said Stehle threw her phone out the window so law enforcement would not be able to track them. Police say he pulled over at one point and sexually assaulted her. He also allegedly "placed a ring on [the victim's] finger" and called it a 'promise ring' saying he would marry her when she turned 18.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Police originally described the victim as a 10-year-old girl. The story has been corrected to reflect her actual age of 11 years old.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

On February 10, DWR officers received a report that a dead cow elk had been discarded in an area between the power plant and the solar fields near Huntington in Emery County. The elk had reportedly been skinned and quartered, but none of the meat was harvested except for the backstraps. The rest of the meat had been left to waste, officers said.

DWR confirmed there was a cow elk hunt that went until Jan. 31, and said it is possible the elk was legally harvested during that time. However, the meat was left to waste, which is illegal.

Additionally, officers said they received multiple reports of dead Canada geese that had been found dumped in various locations near Lawrence and Huntington in Emery County. Some of the geese were found on the ground and some hanging on fences and trees, DWR said.

Officers said most of the geese had the majority of their breast feathers plucked, exposing their bellies, but that none of the meat had been harvested.

Officers believe the geese were harvested during the 2023-24 waterfowl hunting season, but then were illegally wasted.

It is illegal to allow protected wildlife to be wasted and can result in a class B misdemeanor, DWR said.

Anyone with information regarding the illegal killing of the cow elk and the 18 geese -- or any other wildlife-related crimes in Utah -- is encouraged to report it to DWR conservation officers or by one of the following ways:

• Calling the UTiP Hotline at 800-662-3337
• The UTDWR Law Enforcement app
• Texting 847411
• Online through the DWR website
  • However, DWR officials said contact with an officer may be limited with this option.

Joshua Michael Stehle, 29, of Thornton, Colo. was taken into custody and held at the Sevier County Jail while he awaits extradition.

The Salina City Police Department (SPD) said it received an attempt to locate a gold 2000 Chevy Silverado pickup driving with a temporary Colorado tag. The vehicle and its driver were reportedly described as suspects in the abduction of a 11-year-old girl from Kern County, California.

An officer with SPD reportedly spotted the Chevy Silverado driving east on I-70 near Salina and made a traffic stop. From there, he was able to safely take Stehle into custody and rescue the 11-year-old girl, just hours after she was reported missing.

The girl was taken into the custody of the Utah Division of Child and Family Services and has since been reunited with her family in California.

Meanwhile, detectives with the Sevier County Sheriff's Office have been working closely with the Kern County Sheriff's Office in California to further the investigation.

No further details have been publicly released.