The Hub Conservation Area - Montanans 4 Safe Wildlife Passage

DeweySpeciesGeographic BoundaryThe Dewey linkage covers the Big HoleRiver Valley between the very northeastportion of the East Pioneer Mountains,Fleecer Mountain, and the FleecerWildlife Management Area (WMA). Thearea extends to Jerry Creek, west toState Road 569/Fishtrap, and from the BigHole River north to the southern extremeof the Mt. Haggin Wildlife ManagementArea (WMA).Importance of Linkage AreaThis linkage allows north-south wildlifemovement between the Mount Haggin-Fleecer Mountain area into the PioneerMountains and east- west movementbetween the Divide area and the UpperBig Hole River Valley.Ecological SettingThe Dewey linkage spans a section of theBig Hole River where it passes through amountainous canyon between the PioneerMountains and the Fleecer Mountainarea. Highway 43 follows the rivercorridor through the linkage and providesaccess to the small communities of WiseRiver, Thompson Corner and Dewey.Dispersed residential development andranches are found all along the corridor,along with a Forest Service campgroundand several MFWP fishing access sites.Roading in the linkage is limited bysteep topography and lack of accessfrom Highway 43 northward across theBig Hole River. Mountain slopes onboth side of the river are dominated byDouglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) withlodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) commonat higher elevations. Rocky outcropsin the lower canyon support extensivestands of curlleaf mountain mahogany(Cercocarpus ledifolia). Mountain big84sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata vasayana)stands throughout the linkage have beenseriously reduced in size by Douglas-firencroachment. The Wise River is a majortributary that runs onto the Big Hole Riverat mid-linkage. Recent wildfires haveburned in the southwestern part of thelinkage, and combined with expandingareas of insect infestations, have resultedin large of areas of standing, dead timber.Elevations in the linkage rang from about5400 feet near Divide to over 7900 feet.WildlifeElk and black bear move between thePioneers and Mt. Haggin/Fleecer Mountainarea. The south side of this linkageprovides good elk winter range, especiallyon the Fleecer WMA. This is a majormigration corridor between the Anaconda-Pintlers and the Fleecer WMA. This areaprovides secure calving areas and the wetareas and meadows provide good blackbear habitat.Wolverine move across Dewey linkagearea and between the Anaconda-Pintlers,Pioneers (south of the linkage), and Mt.Haggin-Fleecer WMA. All of these aresuitable wolverine habitat, with goodsized contiguous wildlands, a late springsnow pack, and available connectivity forwolverines.Bighorn sheep and mountain goats movethrough Dewey linkage between thePioneers and Fleecer WMA although thehabitat is marginal for both species.Moose habitat is good throughout thelinkage due to the many creeks andproductive wet areas. The Wise Riverarea is the most important moose habitatof the lower 3rd and 4th order streamdrainages.Grizzly bear occupancy in this area is