Idaho Native Trout: A Trout-in-the-Classroom Supplement
The Native Fish Committee has developed a supplemental lesson on Idaho's native trout for use by Trout-in-the-Classroom (TIC) teachers and mentors.
Supplement Objective: The objective of the lesson is to introduce students to the concept of native animals, specifically Idaho's native trout, and how they differ from one another in color, markings, and distribution.
Background: Idaho has 38 native fish species. These include three species of trout: Columbia River redband trout (includes steelhead trout), bull trout, and cutthroat trout. There are three subspecies of cutthroat trout native to Idaho: Westslope cutthroat trout, Yellowstone cutthroat trout, and Bonneville cutthroat trout. The Yellowstone cutthroat trout has a form that is often recognized as distinct: the Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat trout. The cutthroat trout (all subspecies) is also Idaho's state fish! Introduce your Trout-in-the-Classroom students to Idaho's native trout!