The latest phase of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ ongoing collaboration with the Custer Gallatin National Forest to conserve native Yellowstone cutthroat trout in the upper Shields River watershed commenced last week, furthering efforts to preserve the declining species.

The conservation effort began in 2022 after an FWP’s assessment revealed that native Yellowstone cutthroat trout had disappeared from 67% of its historic habitat due to nonnative trout and climate change.

“What this project aims to do is to remove those nonnative fish and then restore Yellowstone cutthroat trout that has the same genetics as what existed there historically and return these Yellowstone cutthroats to the areas where they historically occupied,” said FWP spokesman Morgan Jacobsen.