Cutthroat Trout

Cutthroat Trout tee showcasing these beautiful fish.

The greenback cutthroat trout is threatened. It has been harmed by pollution from mines, dams that cut off its migration, and over-fishing. It can be found in tributaries of the South Platte and the Arkansas Rivers. It's similar to other trout: it needs cold, clean water and spawns in the same area every year. It's neat to notice the changes that occur all around us as birds migrate back north in the spring, and then south in the fall. Greenback cutthroat get bright red bellies and return to their spawning waters. Salmon swim inland from the oceans to spawn and lay their eggs. The greenback cutthroat trout has made a partial comeback from when it was very rare, but it still is rare. 

Go to this link: https://www.inaturalist.org/ to check out what others have noticed changing around them and to share the changes you see. 

Artwork by Susan Peterson