The Hub Conservation Area - Montanans 4 Safe Wildlife Passage

Mountain Goats: The highest density ofmountain goats in Montana is located in the ofthe Crazies. The herd currently numbers about300.Elk: The west side of the Crazies is excellentwinter range habitat with 1,500 elk using thisarea. From Elk Creek, elk move into the Craziesthrough Cottonwood Creek. On the north sideof the Crazies, elk and mule deer use the lowerelevations between Comb Butte and CinnamonPeak.Moose: The steep drainage areas of thenorthern Crazies have good moose habitat.Cottonwood Creek, on the west side of theCrazies, has many moose. Previous fires haveopened up new foraging areas.Conservation ThreatsConflict: Limited access for hunting hasinhibited Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks frommeeting elk population objectives.Recreation: Wolverine may be threatened bywinter ski and snowmobiling activities in theCrazy Mountains and the upper Shields River.Habitat: The mountain goats in the CrazyMountains are reaching the capacity threshold ofthe landscape.Forest management: There is some logging onprivate land within this linkage area.Climate change may lessen the snow pack in theCrazies linkage and affect sensitive wolverinedenning behavior.Conservation OpportunitiesAny land protection strategies that increasewolverine habitat and that decrease humanactivity intrusions in the winter would bebeneficial.The upper Shields River has numeroussnowshoe hare and old growth forest thatcould provide habitat for lynx.The Gallatin Forest Service is enforcing theirtravel plan and making access closures.83