One of the country’s rarest trout subspecies is experiencing a remarkable resurgence in southeastern Colorado. The Hayden Creek cutthroat trout, once nearly wiped out by wildfire in 2016, has been rediscovered thriving in its native waters.
This unique cutthroat trout, found only in the Arkansas River drainage of southern Colorado, was on the verge of extinction before biologists intervened. In 2016, as wildfires raged through Hayden Pass, the last known individuals of this subspecies were rescued to prevent total loss.
Last fall, Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologists confirmed that reintroduced populations are not only surviving but reproducing naturally. Even more significantly, multiple generations have been recorded since their return to the region.
Closely related to Colorado’s state fish, the greenback cutthroat trout, the Hayden Creek cutthroat’s ability to establish a self-sustaining population marks a major success in conservation efforts. This discovery highlights the resilience of native trout species and the effectiveness of strategic reintroduction programs in restoring populations once thought to be lost.
Image: midcurrent
