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Walleye

Sander vitreus

Fish · family Percidae · order Perciformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
26 states[3]
Longest recorded life
29 years[4]

Walleye is a fish in the perch family, called Percidae by scientists[5]. It is ranked Secure worldwide and is not listed under the Endangered Species Act[2][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe ranks the Walleye as Secure worldwide and in the United States[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. The US Fish and Wildlife Service data show it is not listed as Endangered or Threatened under the ESA[1]. Notes say the southern form of Walleye has likely declined, though the data are not good enough to be sure[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern

Where Walleye lives

NatureServe lists the Walleye as native in many states, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and Texas[3]. It has been introduced, meaning people brought it there, in western and other states such as Colorado, Montana, Oregon, Washington and New Jersey[9]. Some states rank it as not native, shown as SNA in the state table[10]. The states with the most GBIF records are Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and New Jersey, which reflects how much people look and report[11].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: native, state rank S5WIVermont: native, state rank S5VTNew Hampshire: introduced, state rank SNANHWashington: introduced, state rank SNAWAIdaho: introduced, state rank SNAIDMontana: introduced, state rank SNAMTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SNRNDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRMNIllinois: native, state rank S3ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank SNRNYMassachusetts: introduced, state rank SNAMAOregon: introduced, state rank SNAORNevada: introduced, state rank SNANVWyoming: introduced, state rank SNAWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S5SDIowa: native, state rank S5IAIndiana: native, state rank S4INOhio: native, state rank S5OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S5PANew Jersey: introduced, state rank SNANJConnecticut: introduced, state rank SNACTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: introduced, state rank SNAUTColorado: introduced, state rank SNACONebraska: native, state rank S5NEMissouri: native, state rank SNRMOKentucky: native, state rank S4KYWest Virginia: native, state rank S5WVVirginia: native, state rank S4VAMaryland: native, state rank SNAMDDelaware: introduced, state rank SNADEArizona: introduced, state rank SNAAZNew Mexico: introduced, state rank SNANMKansas: native, state rank S5KSArkansas: native, state rank S4ARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5NCSouth Carolina: introduced, state rank SNASCDistrict of Columbia: introduced, state rank SNADCOklahoma: introduced, state rank SNAOKLouisiana: introduced, state rank SNALAMississippi: native, state rank S2MSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank SNRGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S5TXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[10].
Show state ranks (45 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
ArizonaSNANot Applicable
ArkansasS4Apparently Secure
ColoradoSNANot Applicable
ConnecticutSNANot Applicable
DelawareSNANot Applicable
District of ColumbiaSNANot Applicable
GeorgiaSNRNot Ranked
IdahoSNANot Applicable
IllinoisS3Vulnerable
IndianaS4Apparently Secure
IowaS5Secure
KansasS5Secure
KentuckyS4Apparently Secure
LouisianaSNANot Applicable
MarylandSNANot Applicable
MassachusettsSNANot Applicable
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaSNRNot Ranked
MississippiS2Imperiled
MissouriSNRNot Ranked
MontanaSNANot Applicable
NebraskaS5Secure
NevadaSNANot Applicable
New HampshireSNANot Applicable
New JerseySNANot Applicable
New MexicoSNANot Applicable
New YorkSNRNot Ranked
North CarolinaS5Secure
North DakotaSNRNot Ranked
OhioS5Secure
OklahomaSNANot Applicable
OregonSNANot Applicable
PennsylvaniaS5Secure
South CarolinaSNANot Applicable
South DakotaS5Secure
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS5Secure
UtahSNANot Applicable
VermontS5Secure
VirginiaS4Apparently Secure
WashingtonSNANot Applicable
West VirginiaS5Secure
WisconsinS5Secure
WyomingSNANot Applicable

Habitat

Walleye live in lakes and in the slower pools and runs of medium to large rivers, usually in moderately deep water[12]. NatureServe records habitats such as big rivers, medium rivers, creeks, pools, riffles, and deep and shallow water[13]. By day it often stays near cover such as plants or tree roots, and it avoids bright light[12]. For spawning, it uses rocky areas in rivers, gravel shoals in lakes and flooded marshes[12].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[13]

Size, diet and lifespan

Adult Walleye eat fish and larger invertebrates, and NatureServe lists them as piscivores and invertivores[14][15]. Young fish eat tiny animals in the water and small fish[15]. The typical length recorded by NatureServe is 78 cm (31 in)[16]. Males usually mature at 2 to 4 years and females at 3 to 8 years[17]. The longest recorded lifespan in the wild is 29 years, which is a record and not a typical lifespan[4]. A typical clutch size in AnAge is 150000 eggs[18].

Trait Value
Typical length[16] 78 cm (31 in)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 29 years (wild)
Litter or clutch size[18] 150000
Food habits[14] Piscivore, Invertivore
Migration[19] non-migrant, local migrant

When to look for it

Walleye are mostly active at night, and also around dawn and dusk, which is what crepuscular means[20][21]. They stay active through winter, and adults are most active in spring and fall[20]. They spawn in spring, and in the north into early summer[17]. Some fish travel between spawning and other waters, and lake populations often move up rivers to spawn[22][19]. GBIF records peak in June, August and December, which shows when people report them[23].

January: 84 recordsJanFebruary: 122 recordsFebMarch: 159 recordsMarApril: 384 recordsAprMay: 609 recordsMayJune: 859 recordsJunJuly: 836 recordsJulAugust: 854 recordsAugSeptember: 505 recordsSepOctober: 312 recordsOctNovember: 163 recordsNovDecember: 1,145 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[23].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January84
February122
March159
April384
May609
June859
July836
August854
September505
October312
November163
December1,145

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Walleye as present in 21 park units[24]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New Jersey[11]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Walleye endangered?
No. NatureServe ranks it as Secure and it is not listed under the Endangered Species Act[2][1].
Where does the Walleye live?
It is native to states such as Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Texas, and has been introduced in states such as Colorado and Oregon[3][9].
What does the Walleye eat?
Adults eat fish and larger invertebrates, and young fish eat tiny water animals and small fish[15][14].
How big is a Walleye?
The typical length recorded by NatureServe is 78 cm (31 in)[16].
How long does a Walleye live?
The longest recorded lifespan in the wild is 29 years, and this is a record, not a typical lifespan[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Walleye is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Walleye: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Walleye as native in 26 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New York, Ohio,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 29 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. Walleye (Sander vitreus) is a fish in the family Percidae, order Perciformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe notes on trend for Walleye. NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe lists Walleye as introduced (not native) in: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Idaho, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah,... NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe state ranks for Walleye (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  11. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Walleye: Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New Jersey. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  12. NatureServe notes on habitat for Walleye. NatureServe Explorer
  13. Habitat types NatureServe records for Walleye: Herbaceous wetland, Big river, Medium river, Creek, High gradient, Moderate gradient, Low gradient, Riffle, Pool, Deep water, Shallow water. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Piscivore, Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  15. NatureServe notes on food for Walleye. NatureServe Explorer
  16. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 78 cm (31 in). NatureServe Explorer
  17. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Walleye. NatureServe Explorer
  18. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 150000. AnAge
  19. NatureServe migration category for Walleye: non-migrant, local migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  20. NatureServe notes on phenology for Walleye. NatureServe Explorer
  21. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Nocturnal, Crepuscular. NatureServe Explorer
  22. NatureServe notes on migration for Walleye. NatureServe Explorer
  23. GBIF observation records of Walleye in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  24. NPSpecies park lists recording Walleye as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.