The Hub Conservation Area - Montanans 4 Safe Wildlife Passage

ange for about 200 elk, and the Springhill areais winter range for a herd of 300-400 animals.The east side of the Bridgers is summer rangefor elk, particularly, Pine Creek to Slushman’sCreek.Pronghorn: There is a very small herd ofpronghorn that move between Kelly Canyon andJackson Creek Road. Pronghorn also inhabit theflatter areas of the west slope foothills.Moose winter in the Bridgers; they can be foundbetween Pine Creek and Slushman’s Creek.Mountain goats were introduced into theBridgers in the 1960’s and live within the Ross’sPeak to Sacajawea Peak area.Mule deer and whitetail deer winter throughoutthe west Bridgers, particularly the Springhillarea.Conservation ThreatsDevelopment is a considerable threat to thislinkage . The explosion of development inthe Gallatin Valley, and consequent increasein people recreating among the Bridgers, willheighten the risk of human-wildlife conflict,habitat fragmentation, and reduced habitatquality.Conflict has occurred for years betweenagricultural operators and deer and elk in thislinkage area.Highways: Interstate 90 between Bozemanand Livingston is a hotspot for animal-vehiclecollisions. I-90 may be a fracture zone forwildlife moving between the Bridgers andGallatins.Recreation: The local ski area is consideringan expansion to the east side of the Bridgers.The expanded support facilities and additionalski runs would increase human presence in thearea.Conservation OpportunitiesThere may be opportunities to promote“living with wildlife” programs in the Bridgerslinkage, especially as carnivore populations inthe Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, and thelikelihood of encounters, continue to increase.Mitigation for wildlife along 1-90 has benconstructed at Bear Canyon near Bozeman.There is a high level of community awareness ofthe issues with wildlife-vehicle collisionswithin the Bozeman and Livingston communities.69