Capitol Reef National Park contains nearly a quarter million acres in the slickrock country of southern Utah. Wildlife is diverse because of a variety of habitats such as pinyon-juniper, perennial streams, dry washes and rock cliffs.

We solicit details of the wildlife seen by visitors because such information adds immeasurably to the value of the park records. Those species with an asterisk have been identified in or near the park. For others, Capitol Reef National Park lies within their known range.

SALMONIDAE

Trout & Chars

• Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) - native to Europe but probably introduced into the West before 1900; thrives in the Fremont River because of tolerance to warm water.
• Rainbow Trout (Salmo gairdnerii) - introduced from the Pacific Coast of the United States; lives well in both cold and warm water.
• Cutthroat Trout (Salmo clarkii) - native to Utah and the Intermountain Region; hybridizes with Rainbow trout.
• Brook Trout (Saivelinus fontinalis) - introduced to the West from the Northeastern part of the United States; found in some cold water streams that flow into the Fremont River.

CATOSTOMIDAE

Suckers

• Flannelmouth Sucker (Catostomus latipinnis) - native to the Colorado River system; herbivorous; ascends streams in the spring to spawn.
• Bluehead Sucker (Pantosteus delphinus) - native to the Colorado River system; usually found in riffles of the streams; feeds on algae, slime, and aquatic insect larvae.

CYPRINIDAE

Chubs, Dance, Minnows & Shiners

• Speckled Dace (Rhinichthys osculus) - native to the Fremont River where it is the most abundant fish; prefers rubble-strewn riffle areas; feeds on algae and other plant materials as well as small crustaceans, insect larvae, and small snails.
• Utah Chub (Gila atraria) - introduced into the Fremont River as bait by fishermen; native habitat is the Bonneville Basin; generalized feeder, consuming higher plants, algae, terrestrial and aquatic insects, snails, crustaceans, and small fish; spawns during July.
• Leatherside Minnow (Gila copei) - found in the Fremont River; feeding and habits probably similar to the Utah chub.
• Redside Shiner (Richardsonius balteatus) - introduced into the Fremont River, native to Bonneville and Columbia River basins; feeds on small aquatic insect larvae, crustaceans, and some plant debris; spawns in late June.

ICTALURIDAE

North American Catfishes

• Black Bullhead (ictalurus melas) - occasionally found in Halls Creek near the southern park boundary where it undoubtedly migrates from Lake Powell; black bullhead is adaptable to a wide range of aquatic conditions but shows preference for more quiet and muddier parts of a stream.

CENTRARCHIDAE

Sunfishes

• Bluegill (Lepomis machrochirus) - occasionally found in Halls Creek where it undoubtedly migrates from Lake Powell; feeds on mollusks, crustaceans, insect larvae, and occasionally on small fish and aquatic plants.

COTTIDAE

Sculpins

• Mottled Sculpin (Cottus bairdi) - probably introduced into the Fremont River from the Bonneville system; carnivorous, a bottom feeder utilizing insect larvae, crustaceans, small fish and snails.

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