Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi

Habitat: They prefer cooler waters, this is generally mountain streams or rivers. They can be found in various regions in Alberta, British Columbia, and Montana. 

Diet: This trout species will forage on invertebrates like mayflies and crane flies. 

Identification: They can be identified by the presence of an adipose fin. Colouration consists of dark spots on a lighter background. Body colour ranges from silver to yellowish-green with lower sides and belly somewhat reddish to bright red in some individuals at spawning time. 

Fun Fact: Westslope Cutthroat Trout is listed as a species of concern in British Columbia but only listed as threatened in Alberta.

Scientific Name: Pandion haliaetus

Habitat: They will nest near water and can be found worldwide. They will migrate south for the winter and return in the spring for mating.

Diet: They eat fish by diving into water to catch their meals. 

Identification: They are dark brown on the back with a white body. They also have a distinctive dark eye strip.

Fun Fact: They mate for life and will often return to the same place in the spring. There is a resident pair that can be found at Idlewild!

Scientific Name: Salvelinus confluentus

Habitat: Bull trout are demanding in terms of habitat requirement.  They thrive in water temperatures below 13 °C, and prefer clean gravel beds, deep pools and cover such as large woody debris and undercut banks.  

Diet: Young bull trout eat plankton and insects such as chironomids, a species of fly.  Older bull trout feed upon other fish.

Identification: Bull trout is a large char of the family Salmonidae, native to northwestern North America.  Its fines have white leading edges and it has unusually large head and mouth.

Fun Fact: The federal government classified the bull trout as threatened under Canada's Species At Risk Act. If we don't manage it effectively, it will become endangered.