Cutthroat home
Posted May 17, 2011, 5:43 pm
Cutthroat trout are native to Utah and western North America.
CUTTHROAT TROUT populations throughout the west have declined significantly since pioneers arrived 160 years ago. The native range of cutthroat trout spans state boundaries and occurs on lands managed by various entities. As a result, several agencies and groups are involved in cutthroat trout conservation and the relationships can be complex. These pages provide basic information about cutthroat trout conservation with a specific focus on Bonneville and Colorado River cutthroat trout.
The cutthroat trout is a diverse species that is divided into several subspecies. Three cutthroat trout subspecies, Bonneville cutthroat trout, Colorado River cutthroat trout and Yellowstone cutthroat trout, are native to Utah, meaning they existed in Utah prior to European settlement. The Bonneville cutthroat trout inhabits most of the western half of Utah. The Colorado River cutthroat trout lives in tributaries to the Colorado and Green rivers. The Yellowstone cutthroat trout is found in the northwest corner of the state in the Raft River drainage. Lahontan cutthroat trout were introduced into Morrison Creek, near Wendover, many years ago.
Cutthroat trout face many threats including habitat fragmentation and degredation, nonnative competitors, and hybridization with rainbow trout and other cutthroat subspecies.
Bonneville cutthroat Colorado River cutthroat Yellowstone cutthroat Lahontan cutthroat