Bull Trout
Salvelinus confluentus
Conservation Concern 4
Because Bull Trout are highly sensitive to habitat changes. They are an indicator species of general ecosystem health. There is no evidence of decline of Bull Trout in Yukon or the Northwest Territories; but in recent decades Bull Trout declined in abundance, including localized extinctions, across their southern range. Bull Trout populations depend on the availability of more pristine and cooler environments of the northerly regions.
Description 4
Bull Trout are are difficult to distinguish from Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) but the two species generally occupy different geographic ranges. Where their ranges overlap, measurements or genetic studies are needed to separate them. Bull Trout have larger, broader, and atter heads than Dolly Varden, with bodies that are more slender and ventrally attened. Pale round spots along their sides and backs that are pink, lilac, yellow-orange or red distinguish them from other types of trout such as Rainbow and Cutthroat.
Typical Habitat 4
This cold water species’ strict habitat requirements vary across life history stages. Bull Trout require habitat that is cold, clean, complex, and connected. Structurally complex habitat provides cover for shelter and the right requirements for breeding and rearing young, while connected habitat allows this migratory species to move between the areas it needs to complete its life cycle.
Potential Threats 4
Their voracious appetite and habit of congregating during spawning make Bull Trout susceptible to over- harvest by anglers particularly in spawning congregations. Barriers including dams, roads, and hanging culverts. Habitat change including forest harvest, mining, oil and gas developments, and increasing wild re events.
Potential Threats 4
Its head and jaws are unusually large for a salmonid, leading to its common name “bull”. In the US Bull Trout is listed as Threatened. Both freshwater and anadromous (ocean run), populations are known although only freshwater populations occur in Yukon.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Flickr_-_Oregon_Department_of_Fish_%26_Wildlife_-_024_bull_trout_sampling_metolius_hargrave_odfw.jpg
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, no known copyright restrictions (public domain), https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/A_juvenile_bull_trout_fish_resting_underwater.jpg
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, no known copyright restrictions (public domain), https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/Bull_trout_fish_on_rocks_by_water_salvelinus_confluentus.jpg
- (c) L.G. Johanson, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
More Info
Range Map
iNaturalist.ca Map
| Animal | Fish |
|---|---|
| Color | orange, red |
