Gila trout

The gila trout (Oncorhynchus gilae) is similar to a Cutthroat trout and a native to the Southwest United States, in Arizona and New Mexico. It is an endangered species, threatened by competition and hybridization with introduced game fish (such as the rainbow trout) and habitat loss. When it was listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1973 its range had reduced from several hundred miles of stream to just 20. After listing USFWS began an aggressive program of stream restoration, removing the introduced trout and restocking restored streams with young gila trout. The species is now more secure than it was, having been moved to 10 new streams, and conservationists hope to delist the species and allow fishing, thus forming alliances with fishermen in order to help preserve the species.

Related Topics:
Cutthroat trout - United States - Arizona - New Mexico - Hybridization - Introduced - Rainbow trout - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - 1973 - Fish

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