The former two organizations sued the Service in 1994 after the agency determined that listing the bull trout as a threatened species was warranted, but precluded by the need to direct limited resources toward other species in greater danger of extinction. Bull trout are native to the Pacific Northwest, including Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Alaska, Alberta, and British Columbia. They have been eliminated from the main stem of most large rivers where they historically occurred. Many remaining populations are isolated in headwater streams. The bull trout is extinct in northern California.
Bull trout are members of the char subgroup in the salmon family.
They can grow to more than 20 pounds in lake environments. Public comments are invited until August 12, 1997. 1387 S. Vinnell Way, Room 368, Boise, Idaho 83709. Comments and materials received will be available for public inspection at this address. A complete description of the proposal to list the Klamath River bull trout population segment as endangered and the Columbia River bull trout population segment as threatened will be published in the Federal Register on June 13, 1997.