Running time: 12 minutes. Produced in Partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2014
A Return of Bull Trout
The mighty Bull Trout are reintroduced to the icy cold waters in the upper reaches of the Clackamas River, Oregon. Biologists recognized this to be the one missing fish in the basin, and note its importance to connectivity in the ecosystem and its food web.
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Applicable Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) by grade level include:
Grades 3-5
LS1A From Molecules to Organisms: Structures & Processes
LS2C Ecosystems dynamics, functioning and resilience
ESS3C Human impacts on earth systems
Middle School
LS4C Biodiversity and Humans
ESS3C Human impacts on earth systems
ETS1 Developing possible solutions
High School
LS2C Ecosystems dynamics, functioning and resilience
LS4 Biological Evolution: Adaptation; Biodiversity & Humans
ESS3-4 Earth and human activity
ESS3C Human impacts on earth systems
ETS1 Developing possible solutions
Crosscutting Concepts
Cause and effect; Stability and change
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Students will learn about Bull Trout and the threats the species has faced.
Students will learn how biologists are working to restore Bull Trout to its historic range.
Students will learn about the value of native fishes and their importance to river ecosystems.
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Trout - A common sportfish across North America, trout live in cold lakes and rivers. Trout have a torpedo-shaped body and are often covered with either light or dark spots, depending on the species.
Wild Fish - Fish that were spawned and hatched in a natural body of water like a river or lake. This contrasts with “hatchery fish” or “stocked fish” which are spawned in a hatchery and stocked into the wild later.
Apex Predator - An animal that is at the top of the food web, rarely eaten by other species.
Historic Range - The area once occupied by a species. This term is most frequently used to describe all of the places where a species was once found, but is no longer found.
Extirpation - A local extinction of a species in a particular part of its range. Extirpation is distinct from “extinction” because other populations persist outside of the extirpated area.
Radio Telemetry - A method of tracking animal movement. A transmitter is attached to the animal and a receiver is used to locate it.
Aquatic Connectivity - The degree of connectedness in a watershed. Rivers with few barriers that block fish movement have high aquatic connectivity while rivers with lots of dams and culverts which block movement have lower aquatic connectivity.
Headwaters - The uppermost beginnings of a river. Headwaters are typically found in mountains at the highest elevation point along a river’s course.
Watch the Film
In English. EN, ES closed captions optional (use 'CC' box in bottom control bar). Full screen viewing button on lower right.
Film Discussion and Reflection
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What kind of habitat do Bull Trout require?
Why were Bull Trout lost from the Clackamas? Why did they need help returning?
Why were Bull Trout found in the Metolius?
How did the biologists ensure the Bull Trout survived their transportation across the Cascades?
Why were biologists tracking the movement of the Bull Trout in the Clackamas?
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What will be needed for continued survival of Bull Trout on the Clackamas?
What conditions are needed before fish can be reintroduced to a stream?
Why do you think Bull Trout are presently considered a threatened species?
How would you achieve community buy in for a restoration project like this?
Are there any native species that have been extirpated from waters near you?
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Patrick Barry - Fisheries Biologist, U.S. Forest Service
Chris Allen - Aquatic Resources Division Manager, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Marci Koski - Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Images available to download for educational and classroom uses. Access more freshwater imagery at the Freshwaters Illustrated Archive.
Extended Exploration
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Salmonid Comparison
Salmonids appear in a number of Freshwaters Illustrated films, and many species are also illustrated in the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service species pages. Students can compare Bull trout to another salmonid in the album or that appears in an FI film then write a description of differences in habitat preferences and diet, and drawing an example of each.
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Bull Trout - Species page curated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Bull Trout - Species page curated by the Western Native Trout Initiative.
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Related Pages and Lessons
Tags: click a tag to view other film pages related to that subject.
