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White Sturgeon

Acipenser transmontanus

Fish · family Acipenseridae · order Acipenseriformes

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

NatureServe global rank G3: vulnerable[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Endangered (some populations)[1]
NatureServe global rank
G3 Vulnerable[2]
Native in
6 states[3]
Longest recorded life
104 years[4]

The White Sturgeon is a large fish in the sturgeon family, Acipenseridae[5]. NatureServe ranks it G3 (Vulnerable) worldwide, and it is native to 6 US states in the West and Alaska[2][3].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the White Sturgeon a global rank of G3, which it labels Vulnerable, and a US national rank of N4, which it labels Apparently Secure[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Vulnerable[7]. Under the Endangered Species Act, one group in the Idaho and Montana area is listed as Endangered, since September 6, 1994[1]. A separate group in California is a Candidate for listing[8]. International trade in the species is controlled under CITES Appendix II[9].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[8] Candidate (San Francisco Estuary Distinct Population Segment)
Endangered Species Act[1] Endangered, listed September 6, 1994 (U.S.A. (ID, MT), Canada (B.C.), (Kootenai R. system))
NatureServe global rank[2] G3 (Vulnerable)
NatureServe US rank[6] N4 (Apparently Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Vulnerable
CITES (international trade)[9] Appendix II
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[10] 100,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Where White Sturgeon lives

NatureServe lists the White Sturgeon as native in 6 US states and territories: Alaska, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington[3]. It is introduced, not native, in Arizona[11]. The Endangered listing covers the Idaho and Montana part of its range[1]. NatureServe also gives each state its own rank, and the ranks differ from state to state[12].

Alaska: native, state rank S3AKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: native, state rank S3B,S4NWAIdaho: native, state rank S1IDMontana: native, state rank S1MTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: native, state rank S4ORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: native, state rank S2CAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: introduced, state rank SNAAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[12].
Show state ranks (7 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlaskaS3Vulnerable
ArizonaSNANot Applicable
CaliforniaS2Imperiled
IdahoS1Critically Imperiled
MontanaS1Critically Imperiled
OregonS4Apparently Secure
WashingtonS3B,S4NVulnerable (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)

Habitat

NatureServe records big and medium rivers, bays and sounds, tidal waters where rivers meet the sea, and near shore waters as habitat[13]. The fish is found at sea, usually close to shore, and in large cool rivers[14]. In California, NatureServe notes that estuaries are used during a large part of its life, and this is likely true in other coastal rivers too[14]. It moves up rivers to breed and returns downstream afterward[14].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[13]

Size, diet and lifespan

The White Sturgeon feeds along the bottom[15]. Young fish eat mostly insect larvae, crustaceans and molluscs, and larger fish eat a good share of other fish[15]. NatureServe records the typical length as 340 cm (134 in)[16]. The longest recorded lifespan in the wild is 104 years[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[16] 340 cm (134 in)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 104 years (wild)
Female maturity[17] 8,212 days (about 22.5 years)
Food habits[18] Piscivore, Invertivore
Migration[19] local migrant, long-distance migrant

When to look for it

NatureServe calls the White Sturgeon a local migrant and a long-distance migrant, and says populations can differ[19]. Fish move upstream to breed and then back downstream[14]. Observation records on GBIF are highest in April, May and July[20]. These records show when people look and report, not how many fish there are[20].

January: 219 recordsJanFebruary: 102 recordsFebMarch: 172 recordsMarApril: 602 recordsAprMay: 981 recordsMayJune: 256 recordsJunJuly: 907 recordsJulAugust: 73 recordsAugSeptember: 181 recordsSepOctober: 137 recordsOctNovember: 326 recordsNovDecember: 433 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[20].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January219
February102
March172
April602
May981
June256
July907
August73
September181
October137
November326
December433

Where to see it

This species is protected or at risk, so we show its range only at the state level. We do not publish parks, nesting, spawning or wintering sites.

States with the most GBIF observation records: California, Washington, Oregon, Alabama, Ohio[21]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the White Sturgeon endangered?
One group in the Idaho and Montana area is listed as Endangered under the ESA[1]. A separate group in California is a Candidate[8]. NatureServe ranks the species G3 (Vulnerable) worldwide[2].
Where does the White Sturgeon live?
It is native to Alaska, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington[3]. It is introduced in Arizona[11].
What does the White Sturgeon eat?
It feeds on the bottom[15]. Young fish eat mostly insect larvae, crustaceans and molluscs, and larger fish eat a good share of fish[15].
How big is a White Sturgeon?
NatureServe records a typical length of 340 cm (134 in)[16].
How long does a White Sturgeon live?
The longest recorded lifespan in the wild is 104 years[4]. That is a record, not a typical lifespan[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Under the US Endangered Species Act, White sturgeon has the status Endangered, listed September 6, 1994 (USFWS ECOS). Listed entity: U.S.A. (ID, MT), Canada (B.C.), (Kootenai R. system). States in the listed range: Idaho, Montana. USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for White Sturgeon: G3 (Vulnerable). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists White Sturgeon as native in 6 US states and territories: Alaska, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 104 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) is a fish in the family Acipenseridae, order Acipenseriformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N4 (Apparently Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Vulnerable. NatureServe Explorer
  8. Under the US Endangered Species Act, White sturgeon has the status Candidate (USFWS ECOS). Listed entity: San Francisco Estuary Distinct Population Segment. USFWS ECOS
  9. CITES listing recorded by NatureServe: Appendix II (controls on international trade). NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 100,000 to >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe lists White Sturgeon as introduced (not native) in: Arizona. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe state ranks for White Sturgeon (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  13. Habitat types NatureServe records for White Sturgeon: Big river, Medium river, Moderate gradient, Low gradient, Bay/sound, River mouth/tidal river, Near shore. NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe notes on habitat for White Sturgeon. NatureServe Explorer
  15. NatureServe notes on food for White Sturgeon. NatureServe Explorer
  16. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 340 cm (134 in). NatureServe Explorer
  17. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 8,212 days (about 22.5 years). AnAge
  18. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Piscivore, Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  19. NatureServe migration category for White Sturgeon: local migrant, long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  20. GBIF observation records of White Sturgeon in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  21. US states with the most GBIF observation records of White Sturgeon: California, Washington, Oregon, Alabama, Ohio. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

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.