The Hub Conservation Area - Montanans 4 Safe Wildlife Passage

Horseshoe HillsSpeciesGeographic BoundaryThe Horseshoe Hills linkage is locatedwest of the southern end of the BigBelts and the northern end of theBridger Mountains. It is bounded bythe East Gallatin River and Interstate90 on the south, by the Missouri Riveron the west, Dry Creek on the east, andSixteenmile Creek on the north.Importance of Linkage AreaThis linkage area is important forungulate movement to and from theadjacent ranges- Bridger Mountains andBig Belt Mountains.Mountain ranges connected in thislinkage: Bridgers, Big BeltsEcological SettingHorseshoe Hills is an area of openrolling foothills, ridges and rocky reefsextending from the Missouri River tothe northern end of the Bridger Range,and north of the Gallatin River. Thearea is primarily sagebrush grasslandhabitat with scattered patches of limberpine (Pinus flexilis) and Rocky Mountainjuniper (Juniperus scopulorum), with afew patches of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii) on north-facing slopes. Somegrassland areas have been converted todry land crop farming and pasture land. Afew general ranch roads are found in thewestern half of the linkage. The easternpart of the linkage, mostly east of the DryCreek road, has been widely developedwith subdivisions, small acreages andranchettes. Average elevation in thislinkage is about 5,000 feet.WildlifeAbout 200-300 elk live within this linkagearea and move east to the Bar None111ranch for winter range. There is a lot ofinterchange of elk between this linkagearea and the Bridger Mountains.Mule deer are found throughout thislinkage.This area provides excellent habitat forpronghorn, which move throughout thelinkage area.Conservation ThreatsDevelopment from the Gallatin Valley iscreeping into this linkage, much of whichis private land; the remaining publicland is becoming increasingly difficult toaccess.Fencing is a big issue for pronghorn andyoung elk moving in this linkage area.Highways: Interstate 90, south of thislinkage, fractures population connectivityfor pronghorn , which traditionallyintermingled with pronghorn populationssouth of the interstate.Energy development is starting to beproposed, particularly for oil and naturalgas wells.Conservation OpportunitiesThere may be opportunities to promotewildlife friendly fencing in the HorseshoeHills linkage.Much of the land is held largeprivate ranch owners; there may beopportunity to promote wildlife friendlystewardship.