Lake Trout

Illustration by Michelle LaGory. Courtesy of Wyoming Game & Fish



Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) are native to northern Canada, Alaska, the Great Lakes and parts of New England. They were discovered in Yellowstone Lake in 1994, the result of illegal introductions at least since the 1980s (though credible observations have been reported over the park’s history). Although gillnetting has been used to remove lake trout, they continue to have a significant ecological impact by consuming and competing for food with the native Yellowstone cutthroat trout, an important food source for other native animals, including grizzly bears, osprey, and bald eagles. As prey, lake trout are a poor substitute for cutthroat trout because they can become larger, occupy deeper areas of the lake, and spawn in the lake instead of shallow tributaries. In 1995, experts predicted that in the absence of action to limit lake trout, the number of Yellowstone cutthroat trout would be reduced by 70% or more within 100 years.

 
Updated 1/08/08