Bull Trout Species Distribution

The current distribution of bull trout populations in the lower 48 states outside of SE Alaska and Canada is highly fragmented, occupying
 only
 portions 
of 
the
historically
occupied
 watersheds. 


In 
non‐coastal 
areas,
they
 typically 
remain 
only 
in 
the 
coldest
 tributaries. 


Like
 most 
native 
salmonids 
in
 the 
west, 
bull trout 
distribution,
 abundance,
 and 
habitat
 quality have 
declined 
range‐wide.
 For 
example, 
in 
Idaho, 
Nevada 
and
Montana,
 about 
one‐third
 of 
the
 currently
 occupied
 habitat 
supports populations at or near habitat capacity, while two-thirds support populations significantly below potential.