Arctic Graylings Returning to Yellowstone National Park

WEST YELLOWSTONE, Mont. (AP) — Grayling Creek in northwest Yellowstone National Park will be seeing the return of its namesake fish.

National Park Service Crews hatched 100,000 Arctic grayling eggs in the upper parts of Grayling Creek, a stream running from the park into Hebgen Lake. The Park Service will also introduce native westslope cutthroat trout to the stream.

The Artic grayling and westslope cutthroat introductions are part of an effort to bring a native fish community back to the watershed. The fish will be stocked for at least three years at the creek.

A population of Arctic grayling, a fish known for its large dorsal fin and iridescent color, was largely existent in the early 20th century. In 2013 and 2014, crews treated the proposed restoration area to make way for the fish again.