QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
90-DAY FINDING
YELLOWSTONE CUTTHROAT TROUT

Yellowstone cutthroat trout (YCT) is one of 13 subspecies of cutthroat trout native to the Rocky Mountain region. It is bright yellow, orange, and red and is generally distinguishable from other inland subspecies of cutthroat trout by the particular pattern of black spots that appear on the body.

Where are YCT found?

The historic range of YCT generally consists of the waters of the Snake River drainage (Columbia River basin) upstream from Shoshone Falls, Idaho, and those of the Yellowstone River drainage (Missouri River basin) upstream from and including the Tongue River, in eastern Montana. Historic range in the Yellowstone River drainage thus includes large regions of Wyoming and Montana, whereas that of the Snake River drainage includes large regions of Wyoming and Idaho and small parts of Utah and Nevada. Today, various YCT stocks remain in each of those major river drainages in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and Nevada.

Publication in the Federal Register of a 90-day finding makes public the Service’s decision on a petition to list a species as threatened or endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act. That finding is based on a detailed assessment of the petition and other available information on the subspecies. Two possible conclusions can be reached as part of the 90-day finding: that substantial information was provided in the petition indicating that listing may be warranted (the species would then be given further consideration for listing) or the information was not substantial enough to provide such an indication.

In the case of YCT, the Service found that the petition failed to present substantial information indicating that listing YCT may be warranted at this time.

In their petition, the petitioners provide no evidence that the YCT population as a whole is declining toward extinction in the foreseeable future, nor do they present data or models that suggest the extinction probability for the YCT population is high. Although the petitioners provide evidence that YCT stocks in some areas of the subspecies’ current range are confronted by important threats, they provide no evidence that those threats are not being effectively countered by ongoing management actions or that the threats are equally applicable to other YCT stocks across the range of the subspecies.

Our review of available information revealed that YCT currently inhabit approximately 4,700 miles of stream in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and approximately 1,000 miles of stream in Yellowstone National Park. Moreover, each of the principal State and Federal agencies responsible for YCT management has a long history of working to conserve the subspecies.

The Service found that most of the habitat for extant YCT stocks lies on lands administered by Federal agencies, particularly the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service. Many of the strongholds for YCT stocks occur within roadless or wilderness areas or Yellowstone National Park, all of which afford considerable protection to YCT.

There are numerous Federal and state regulatory mechanisms that, if properly administered and implemented, protect YCT and their habitats throughout the range of the subspecies. In addition, the U.S. Forest Service, state game and fish departments, and National Park Service reported numerous ongoing projects directed toward the protection and restoration of YCT and their habitats.

The Service received information pertinent to YCT from several state game and fish departments, the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and tribal governments. The Service also reviewed information on YCT obtained from professional journal articles, agency reports and file documents.

The petitioners assert that the range of YCT has been reduced substantially from historic levels and the subspecies faces serious, ongoing threats to its continued survival. The petitioners further assert that threats of four major types jeopardize the continued persistence of YCT: (1) the continuing negative effects of legal and illegal introductions and stocking of nonnative fishes that subsequently hybridize or compete with YCT, eliminate YCT through competition, or prey upon YCT; (2) excessive harvest by anglers; (3) habitat degradation and fragmentation; and (4) whirling disease (caused by a nonnative parasite). In addition, the petitioners believe a serious threat to YCT results from invasion of some YCT habitats by the nonnative New Zealand mud snail. Although the petitioners acknowledge that several current management programs attempt to reduce some of these alleged threats, they assert that the majority of those threats remain inadequately addressed or entirely unaddressed.

If YCT is a subspecies, why is it given consideration under the Endangered Species Act? 

The Endangered Species Act can protect subspecies of vertebrate animals, such as the YCT.

 As the result of our review of available information for YCT, the Service found that there are numerous federal and state regulatory mechanisms that protect YCT and their habitats throughout the range of the subspecies. In addition, the U.S. Forest Service, state game and fish departments, and National Park Service reported numerous ongoing projects directed toward the protection and restoration of YCT and their habitats.

Does the Service offer any recommendations regarding the management of YCT? 

The Service strongly recommends that state game and fish departments, federal land-management agencies, tribal governments, private groups, and other concerned entities continue to work individually and cooperatively to develop and implement programs to protect and restore stocks of YCT throughout the historic range of the subspecies.