![]() removal of barriers to migration caused by human activities. The Western Native Trout Initiative lists the opportunities and strategies for improving Dolly Varden status as: restoration of disturbed habitat following mining or other human activities. To date there are no concerns regarding interactions with introduced species. In Washington, Dolly Varden are managed collectively as “native char” due to often being misidentified as bull trout. As resource development increases in Alaska, environmental monitoring and utilization of mechanisms to protect fish habitats will continue to be important to minimize impacts to Dolly Varden populations. In Alaska, oil and gas exploration occurs on a large scale on the North Slope, and development of mineral extraction projects are beginning on the Alaska Peninsula. In Alaska, North Slope populations that spend the winter in a single spring are extremely vulnerable to predators, human harvest, or other human activities that alter groundwater flow. Looking forward: While widely considered healthy, Dolly Varden populations are increasingly subject to threats from human harvest, mining, urbanization, migratory barriers, timber harvest and climate change. In Alaska, Dolly Varden spawn and usually live in streams and rivers (although southern-form Dolly Varden usually overwinter in lakes) and may migrate to and from the ocean. Spawning male Dolly Varden usually develop a distinct kype. Both freshwater resident and sea run populations occur in both the northern and southern forms.ĭolly Varden generally have a greenish body with many small spots, and a slightly-forked tail. The northern form ranges from the north side of the Alaska Peninsula northward to the Mackenzie River in Canada, and in the Susitna drainage in Southcentral Alaska. ![]() The southern form ranges from Southeast Alaska throughout the Gulf of Alaska to the south side of the Alaska Peninsula and the Aleutian and Kodiak islands. The northern form of Alaskan Dolly Varden can attain a much larger size than the southern form. There are two forms of Dolly Varden in Alaska, the difference is the in the number of vertebrae. In the continental United States, Dolly Varden naturally only occur in coastal the drainages of northwestern Washington from the Canadian border south through Puget Sound and south on the Olympic Peninsula to the Quinault River. To tell a char from a trout you can look at their spots - char have light spots (white or yellow to red) on a dark body, while trout have dark spots (brown to black) on a light body.ĭolly Varden are a close relative to bull trout and it wasn’t until 1978 that the two species were confirmed to be distinct. Species summary and status: Though similar to, and often confused with trout, Dolly Varden are in fact a char. Sign Up for Auto-Renewal & Sustainer Giving.
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