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Yellowstone Cutthroat The Yellowstone cutthroat trout Salmo clarki bouvieri, is the most abundant and widely dispersed subspecies of inland cutthroat trout. The historic range of the subspecies included the Yellowstone River drainage in Montana and Wyoming and |
| portions of the Snake River drainage in Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada, Utah and perhaps Washington. Yellowstone cutthroat trout became isolated in the headwaters of the Snake River after the creation of Shoshone Falls 30,000-60,000 years ago. Between 8000-12000 years ago Yellowstone cutthroat trout entered the Yellowstone River Drainage from the Snake River Drainage at Two Ocean Pass in what is now Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. |  |
| Yellowstone cutthroat trout subsequently colonized all suitable habitats within the drainage. Since the late 1800s the occupied range of stream dwelling Yellowstone cutthroat trout in the state of Montana has decreased by approximately 90%. Current distribution and abundance of Westslope Cutthroat trout is also severely restricted compared to historical conditions. Genetically unaltered |
| Westslope Cutthroat trout are believed
to exist in less than about 3 percent of the historic range within the
upper Missouri River basin. Causes for the decline of
native cutthroat include; competition with and predation by non-native
fish species, genetic introgression, over fishing, and habitat
degradation. Many of the remaining genetically pure populations are
located in small isolated headwater streams and are very vulnerable to
extinction through both natural and human disturbances. Recent findings indicate grizzly bears in Yellowstone National Park depend on cutthroat trout. During a 3-year research project, conducted by Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team and National Park Service biologists, a minimum of 84 different grizzlies visited streams around Yellowstone Lake during cutthroat trout spawning runs. The gullibility of the Cutthroat trout is what initially made the Montana Blue Ribbon Stream designation so popular. To a large degree Cutthroats, and especially Montana Cutthroats are responsible for making fly fishing the popular sport it is today. For many fly fishers, their first trout was a Cutthroat. Yellowstone Cutthroats feed on whatever is available and are much less selective than Rainbow or Brown Trout. Yellowstone Cutthroats unlike Westslope Cutthroats will also eat bait fish. In that respect they are more like their cousins to the south, the Lahoutan Cutthroats. |
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