The Bull Trout was once found throughout the Columbia River Basin, east to western Montana, south to northern Nevada, west to California and possibly as far north as southeastern Alaska. The main populations remaining in the lower 48 states are in Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, with a small population in northern Nevada. The Bull Trout has small, pale yellow-to-crimson spots on a darker background, fading to white on the belly.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced Sept. 4, 2014, the availability of a Revised Draft Recovery Plan for the Coterminous U.S. Population of Bull Trout. Bull trout are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in the lower 48 United States. It occurs in Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and Nevada. The Revised Draft Recovery Plan updated the recovery criteria proposed in the 2002 and 2004 draft recovery plans to focus on effective management of threats to Bull Trout and de-emphasized achieving targeted population numbers of adult bull trout in specific areas. The Service published a Final Recovery Plan for the Coterminous U.S. Population of Bull Trout on Sept. 30, 2015.
Between 2007 and 2021, the Western Native Trout Initiative has contributed $770,413 to 33 projects benefiting Bull Trout.
Additional Resources
- READ the Bull Trout Recovery Plan.
- Review a map of the Bull Trout Recovery Units
- READ about Bull Trout conservation by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
- READ about Bull Trout conservation by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
- READ about Bull Trout Identification and fishing regulations by Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks.
- READ a High Country News January 2016 article about Bull Trout and the NorWEST stream temperature Climate Shield network and cold water refugia.
Videos
WATCH a video about Bull Trout recovery in Montana.
WATCH THIS GREAT VIDEO of a bull trout in Klickitat Creek, a tributary of the White River in Washington. Video courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Washington Fish and Wildlife Office.