The Hub Conservation Area - Montanans 4 Safe Wildlife Passage

CraziesSpeciesGeographic BoundaryThis linkage area encompasses the CrazyMountains and the surrounding foothills.Importance of Linkage AreaThis linkage area provides connectivityfor local ungulate movement from thefoothills into the higher elevations of theCrazy Mountains. There is also northsouthmovement through the mountains.On a larger scale, this linkage areaconnects the Crazy Mountains to theCastles and Little Belt Mountains, andpotentially to the Absaroka Range to thesouth, and subsequent connection to theGreater Yellowstone Ecosystem and theRocky Mountain Front.Mountain ranges connected in thislinkage: Crazy Mountains, Little BeltMountains, Absarokas.Ecological SettingThe Crazy Mountains are a set ofspectacular peaks rising steeply fromthe Yellowstone River Valley and thesurrounding plains northwest of BigTimber. The linkage includes sagebrushgrasslands at lowest elevations withscattered patches of limber pine(Pinus flexilis), Rocky Mountainjuniper (Juniperus scopulorum), andponderosa pine (P. ponderosa), mostlyon rock outcrops and ridges. Douglas-fir(Pseudotsuga menziesii) is expanding onthe lower mountain slopes, and increaseswith elevation along with lodgepole pine(P. contorta), and subalpine fir (Abieslasiocarpa), Engelmann spruce (Piceaengelmannii) and whitebark pine (P.albicaulis) at highest elevations. Alpinebasins contain numerous small lakes witha variety of wet meadows and open parks.Drainages are steep, with perennial82streams that support willow (Salix spp.)and aspen (Populus tremuloides) riparianhabitats. A few primary access roadsenter the linkage, and a few ranchesare located in the lower foothills. Sometimber harvest and road developmenthave occurred in the north end of thelinkage in the upper Shields River basinbut overall, the linkage is undeveloped.Elevation in the linkage ranges from about6,000 feet to over 10,000 feet.WildlifeGrizzly: There are persistent reportsof grizzly bears in the Crazy Mountains,although none revealed in surveys. Theyare thought to be coming from the south.The Crazy Mountains are less contiguoushabitat for potential grizzly bear habitatand movement. There are many blackbears in the Crazy Mountains as well asmountain lions.Wolverines: The Crazy Mountains aregreat high alpine wolverine habitat,consistently reported in surveys for threeprevious winters. Cottonwood Creek,the upper Shields River, Duck Creek,and Sweet Grass Creek are excellentwolverine habitat. Loco Mountain andCinnamon Peak have some historictrapping data. As an isolated mountainrange, lower numbers of wolverines arerecorded in the Crazies than in otherranges further west. The Little Belt,Big Belt and Crazies wolverine are ofthe same mitochondrial line; the samewolverines possibly use the Little BeltMountains, Castle Mountains, and CrazyMountains as home range.Wolves: There has been some wolfactivity in the north Crazies, and onecollared female wolf has ranged fromYellowstone National Park to the CrazyMountains.