Idaho's 'Leopard Fish' Rebounds From 50 to Fishing Season

In 2004, only 50 burbot fish remained in Idaho's Kootenai River system. Today, these spotted predators are thriving again, and anglers are back on the water catching them legally for the first time in years.

The burbot, nicknamed the Kootenai leopard for its spotted coat and fierce hunting style, nearly disappeared from Idaho waters. Dam construction blocked their path to spawning grounds, and overfishing did the rest. Within three decades, the freshwater cod population crashed so dramatically that scientists considered them functionally extinct in the river.

But three groups refused to accept that outcome. The Ktunaxa Nation Council, the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game joined forces in the early 2000s to bring the burbot back.

They started by tagging fish to learn their spawning patterns. The Kootenai Tribe raised burbot in fisheries and released them in carefully selected river locations. Sport fishing was suspended completely to give the population room to recover.

The strategy worked. By 2019, burbot numbers had rebounded enough to reopen fishing season. The success wasn't just about saving one species. As apex predators, burbot keep the entire Kootenai River ecosystem balanced by controlling populations of smaller fish and invertebrates.

The Ripple Effect

The burbot's comeback means more than good fishing. These nocturnal hunters act as nature's thermometer for river health. When burbot thrive, it signals clean water, stable temperatures, and a balanced food web.

Their recovery transformed a dying river system into a thriving one again. Other fish species benefit from the restored balance, and the entire waterway functions the way it should. The collaboration between tribal nations and state agencies created a conservation model that other regions are now studying.

Conservation teams continue monitoring the population to prevent another crash. Their ongoing work ensures future generations will know the Kootenai leopard as more than a cautionary tale. It's living proof that extinction isn't inevitable when people work together.