The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service has concluded that a petition to list the Yellowstone cutthroat trout as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act does not provide substantial biological information to indicate that a listing may be warranted at this time.
The Biodiversity Legal Foundation, Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Montana Ecosystems Defense Council, and Mr. George Wuerthner petitioned the Service in 1998 to list the Yellowstone cutthroat trout, a brightly colored fish found primarily in Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, as threatened throughout its range. The petition and finding also include the finespotted Snake River cutthroat trout to be a variation of the same subspecies.
Service biologists found that Yellowstone cutthroat trout currently inhabit approximately 4,700 miles of stream in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and approximately 1,000 miles of stream in Yellowstone National Park. In addition, numerous stocks of Yellowstone cutthroat trout inhabit Yellowstone Lake in the park. Each of the principal state and Federal agencies responsible for Yellowstone cutthroat trout management has a long history of working to conserve the subspecies of trout.
"Although the number of Yellowstone cutthroat trout stocks in large rivers has declined from historic levels, the Service found that viable, self-sustaining Yellowstone cutthroat trout stocks remain widely distributed throughout the historic range of the subspecies." said Ralph Morgenweck, the Service regional director for the Mountain-Prairie Region.
Most of the habitat for Yellowstone cutthroat trout lies on lands administered by Federal agencies, especially the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service. Moreover, many of the strongholds for Yellowstone cutthroat trout occur within roadless or wilderness areas or Yellowstone National Park, all of which afford considerable protection to the fish.
In addition, the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, and State game and fish departments report approximately 100 ongoing projects directed toward the protection and restoration of Yellowstone cutthroat trout and their habitats.
The Yellowstone cutthroat trout is bright yellow, orange, and red. It is generally distinguishable from other inland subspecies of cutthroat trout by the particular pattern of black spots that appears on the fish
