The Hub Conservation Area - Montanans 4 Safe Wildlife Passage

ElkhornsSpeciesGeographic BoundaryThe Elkhorn linkage area is comprisedmostly of the Elkhorn mountain rangeand the foothills surrounding the valley,including the Limestone Hills to the east.Interstate 15 runs along the western sideof the linkage, and Highway 12/287 runsalong the eastern boundary. The westside of the linkage includes the easternfoothills of the Boulder Mountains west ofthe towns of Clancy and Corbin.Importance of Linkage AreaRegionally, this linkage area providesfor wildlife connectivity between theContinental Divide to the west with theElkhorn Range.Mountain ranges connected in thislinkage: Boulders, Elkhorns, EisenhowerMountainsEcological SettingThe Elkhorn Mountains are an isolatedmountain range bordered by the BoulderRiver valley on the southwest, theMissouri River valley on the south andeast, the Helena valley on the north, withthe only mountainous, forested habitatconnection being to the northwest.Lower elevation, foothills habitatssupport a variety of grasslands, somesagebrush (Artemisia tridentata spp.)habitat, and ponderosa pine (Pinusponderosa) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii) forest. Mid to higher elevationforest is dominated by extensive standsof lodgepole pine (P. contorta) intermixedwith natural meadows and riparianstringers, some associated with oldbeaver complexes. The highest elevationsubalpine areas support very littlevegetation on bare rock and scree slopes.Recent large wildfires have left extensiveareas of standing dead timber on the91north and southwest sides of the linkage,but these same fires have stimulatedaspen (Populus tremuloides) regenerationin some areas. The linkage has sustainedcomparatively little human developmentwith only localized timber harvest. Roaddensity is light and used primarily forgeneral access. Some surface miningactivity has occurred at the Elkhornghost town in the south central part ofthe linkage, and just west of Townsend.A major power line corridor crossesthe southwestern part of the linkage.Interstate 15 bisects the western sideof the linkage from Boulder to Helena.Residential development is increasing inthe foothills above Boulder and along theI-15 corridor. Elevations in the linkagerange from 4,600 feet near Townsend toalmost 9,500 feet on Crow Peak.WildlifeThis area provides connectivity for elkbetween winter and summer range. Thecentral Elkhorns are especially goodelk habitat, with a great mix of wetvegetation areas and very few roads. TheBrooklyn Bridge Ridge (between MontanaCity and Clancy on the west side of thelinkage), is a major movement area forwildlife between the Continental Divide inthe Boulders and the Elkhorn Mountains,particularly ungulates like elk, mule deer,and pronghorn, and carnivores like blackbear, mountain lions, and wolverine.Grizzly occupancy in this area is low.Although the linkage area has greatpotential habitat, it is a relativelyisolated range and therefore does nothave the contiguous large habitat areasto support a large population of bears.Grizzly bears moving west-southwest offthe Continental Divide are most likely touse Mike Horse Creek area to the northwhich connects to the Continental Divide