The Hub Conservation Area - Montanans 4 Safe Wildlife Passage

Toston to Milligan CreekSpeciesGeographic BoundaryThe linkage extends across the southernfoothills of the Elkhorn Mountains fromthe Boulder River on the west, northeastto the Missouri River valley betweenCanyon Ferry Reservoir and Townsend,south along Highway 287 to Toston,southwest to upper Milligan Creek at I-90,and west to the mouth of the BoulderRiver.Importance of Linkage AreaThis linkage provides an open-countrylinkage from the north and east sidesof the Tobacco Root Mountains to theElkhorn Mountains and the southern endof the Big Belts. It serves as a northwardlink for grizzly bear and wolves movingfrom the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem(GYE) northward. It also provides corehabitat for pronghorn antelope, andseasonal habitat for mule deer.Mountain ranges connected in thislinkage: Elkhorn, Big Belt, and TobaccoRoot Mountains.Ecological SettingThis linkage includes the open foothillshabitat between the Boulder River andthe Missouri River south of the ElkhornMountains. The area is primarilygrassland with scattered big sagebrush(Artemisia tridentata spp.) communities,with a few small scattered patchesof Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperusscopulorum), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii), and limber pine (Pinusflexilis) in the far south end of thelinkage. The linkage has been widelydeveloped for dry land grain crops andmuch of the native vegetation has beenconverted. Farm roads are commonin the northeastern corner betweenRadersburg and Townsend with general179access roads available elsewhere.Interstate 90 bisects the south end of thelinkage. Residential development hasoccurred along Highway 287 east of thelinkage and adjacent to the Missouri RiverValley, but large-acreage subdivisionshave recently expanded into farmlandin upper Milligan canyon and northwestof the Three Forks exit on I-90. Averageelevation in this linkage is about 4,800feet.WildlifePronghorn and mule deer are widelydispersed in the linkage yearlong.Wolves and grizzly bears: This linkageconnects the Elkhorns and Tobacco Rootsas a suitable corridor for northwardmovement and expansion by both species.The Jefferson River canyon at Lewisand Clark Caverns up to CottonwoodCanyon and Dougherty Mountain maybe a potential grizzly bear movementarea northward from the Tobacco Roots.However the open character of thehabitat, coupled with the amount ofhuman disturbance, limits the potentialfor that use throughout the linkage.Sharp-tailed grouse: The interspersionof sagebrush and native grasslandssupport sharp-tailed grouse in upperMilligan Creek and along the edge of theMissouri River valley between Toston andTownsend. However, this is becomingmore constrained by habitat conversion.Conservation ThreatsDevelopment: Large subdivision inthe south and east sides of the linkageare developing native habitat, as wellas increasing human presence anddisturbance. This affects pronghorn,mule deer and sharp-tailed grouseuse. Recreational demand on thesurrounding area also increases with that