The Hub Conservation Area - Montanans 4 Safe Wildlife Passage

dispersal corridor for all of these species. ThePioneers and Fleecer Mountains are sufficientlylarge to provide yearlong habitat for grizzly andwolverine, and this linkage provides access tothat habitat from the east.Black Bear: Black bear are common throughoutthe linkage, often in association with seasonal elkhabitats and riparian corridors.Mule deer: Mule deer winter in this linkage area,primarily in the foothills of the Highlands, theMaiden Rock area of the Pioneers, and on thesouth end of the Fleecer WMA. These are primewinter ranges with movement occurring betweenthem.Elk are present throughout the linkage duringthe winter. Primary use areas are from upperMoose Creek south into Camp Creek, and fromCattle Gulch through Canyon Creek. The FleecerGame Range supports a major proportion ofthe wintering elk population in the Fleecer/Mt.Haggin elk management unit.Pronghorn antelope are present most of the yearfrom the Melrose area northward and west ofI-15. Most animals migrate south to Fleecer WMAto winter.Mountain goats occasionally winter in lowerCanyon Creek. Bald eagles are winter residentsalong this portion of the river.Conservation ThreatsDevelopment: Private ranch lands in the linkagearea are increasingly vulnerable to subdivisiondue to the proximity of Butte and the BigHole River. New roads to access residencesand subdivisions south of Buxton are furtherfragmenting habitat. Overall human presence inthe linkage area is increasing, particularly withrecreational use in the Big Hole River corridor.Vehicle collisions and wildlife mortality: Trafficon I-15 constrains wildlife use of this linkage.Road kills were common on Moose Creek Hillwhen bighorn sheep and mule deer populationswere higher in the area, and still occur.Power line construction: The construction of alarge 500kV power line would require additionalservice roads and create a collision hazard forwaterfowl, eagles and other birds where itcrosses the Big Hole River.Fences: Crossing the interstate and railroadcorridor east to west over Moose Creek Hill(approximately two miles) requires negotiatingat least nine wildlife barrier fences. Livestockpasture fences elsewhere are additional barriersto wildlife movement.Bighorn mortality: Mortality in the bighornsheep population is continuing to suppressrecovery efforts following a mid-1990s dieoff.The effects of long-term drought on forageavailability and exposure to domestic sheep areprobable contributing factors.Conservation OpportunitiesConservation awareness: The number ofconservation-oriented people living in orclose to the linkage is increasing and createsthe opportunity to create a place-basedconstituency.Highway crossing projects: Fencing to influencewildlife crossing points on the highway couldbe effective. Underpasses are available.Additional highway signage, advising motoristsof collision risks, could be justified.Conservation management: Potential expansionof the Fleecer Game Range, or conservationeasements on adjacent private lands, couldfurther enhance habitat security in this portionof the linkage.87