Idaho Fish and Game looking for Comment on Westslope Trout Plans

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho wildlife managers want to know what members of the public think about their plan to help save Westslope cutthroat trout in the state. The Department of Fish and Game is taking comment on its draft plan until July 26. These fish, characterized by spotting and distinctive red coloring near its gills, still occupy about 80 percent of historical range in Idaho.

That includes streams like the Moyie River and Kootenai River in northern Idaho. There was a petition in 1997 to list them as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Though the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has decided so far it doesn't merit listing, Fish and Game aims to protect the fish for anglers and return populations to waterways where it's no longer found. To comment, click http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/.