Bitterroot Cutthroats

Bitterroot cutthroats eyed for hatchery program

   HAMILTON, Mont. (AP) -- Montana wildlife officials intend to use wild westslope
cutthroat trout from the Bitterroot Valley as part of a plan to keep hatchery fish
more able to fend for themselves once released into the wild.    Lee Nelson of
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks tells the Ravalli Republic that the Bitterroot
Valley cutthroats will be sed starting next year.
   Nelson says that over time, generations of hatchery fish lose skills they need
to survive in the wild and instead become good at surviving in hatcheries.
   He says bringing in fresh genes from wild fish helps prevent that from
happening.
   If disease and genetic testing fail to turn up something to stop the project,
biologists plan to use cutthroats from Three Mile Creek, the South Fork of Willow
Creek and Tamarack Creek.    ------
   Information from: Ravalli Republic
   AP-WF-10-13-12 2243GMT