Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks PROJECT BRIEF

We partner with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) on everything from conservation easements to habitat restoration projects. More often than not, they’re also the state’s first responders when grizzlies and people are having trouble staying out of each other’s way.

In Montana’s Little Blackfoot Valley, increasing grizzly activity has brought new challenges for ranching communities living in a key linkage zone between the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide ecosystems. With support from Vital Ground, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks worked alongside the Blackfoot Challenge and local ranch families to reduce attractants and prevent conflicts through a livestock carcass pickup program and targeted electric fencing projects.

The carcass removal program continued to build trust with landowners while reducing bone yards and other attractants that can draw grizzlies into conflict situations. At the same time, partners installed electric fencing at three ranch sites, protecting calving areas, residences and a chicken coop in areas with repeated bear activity. Together, these efforts improved safety for people and livestock, reduced the likelihood of lethal management actions, and strengthened community support for grizzly recovery in this critical connectivity corridor.