Bison Restoration

National mammal of the United States, HHAA has been advocating for reintroduction of wild bison, starting with the Charles M. Russel National Wildlife Range as well as appropriate public lands north of Yellowstone National Park. Bison must be managed as Montana wildlife, and treated in a fashion that is consistent with the way in which deer, elk, antelope and other wildlife are treated. Bison should be managed as a public trust by the State of Montana.

• American Prairie Reserve Bison Grazing-HHAA Comment 2018-05-01
• Bison Plan support to Gov Bullock from Jim Posewitz 2019-10-15
• Comments.DEIS.Revision.LRMP.Helena.LC.September.2018
• FINAL Bison EIS ROD 2020 signed
• American Prairie Reserve Bison Restoration – IR 2020-01-20 Jim Posewitz

Wildlife Reports/Information

From antelope to wolves, natural history information on a selection of wildlife can be found at https://fwp.mt.gov/conservation.

Check in to find the latest in wildlife research and issues of concern on species ranging from mountain goats to wolverines and mountain lions. Recent research and reports on various wildlife.

• Status of Montana’s Mountain Goats by Smith and DeCesare 2017
• Elkhorns and Hiding Cover 2019
• Garnet Mountain Lion Project
• Reproductive Success of Elk Following Disturbance by Humans During Calving Season
• Effects of Recreation on Rocky Mountain Wildlife
• Chronic wasting disease updates

Sensitive, Threatened, and Endangered Species

• Wolverine – A general description of wolverine, as well as diagnostic characteristics, species range, observations, migration, habitat, and ecological descriptions are provided in the Field Guide produced by Montana Natural Heritage. HHAA’s involvement in establishing the legal status of the wolverine is provided in Past Accomplishments.

Recreation Impact References

The stated Purpose and Need of the TSH project is to:  maintain consistent quantity and quality of water within the City of Helena’s Tenmile municipal watershed, as well as improve conditions for public and firefighter safety across the landscape in the event of a wildfire.   

Two years after the project was proposed, and nine months after a Draft Environmental Impact Statement was released, mountain bike trails were incorporated into the project.  

The integrity of wildlife habitat within the roadless areas would be compromised by many miles of proposed trails.  

Little doubt exists that recreational impacts compromise wildlife and their habitat – as the scientific literature demonstrates.  

Particularly within the IRAs, HHAA contends that constructing trails suitable for mountain bikes is not in the best interest of either wildlife or the wild character of these areas.  

• American’s love of hiking – driving elk to the brink
• Bikers and Bears Risky Combo – Daily Interlake 6-2019
• Effects of Recreation on Rocky Mountain Wildlife – Montana Chapter of The Wildlife Society
• Elk vs trails Proposal in Steamboat Springs highlights conflicts over public lands  Denver Post Feb 2019
• Behavioral Responses of North American Elk to Recreational Activity
• Analyzing animal movement patterns in relation to human activity
• Scientist say mountain bikes negatively impact bears-Todd Wilkenson 2019-05-22
• Shifting Values – Funhog Towns – Mountain Journal 2018-04-04

Wildlife Disease

Timely, conscientious, scientific management of Chronic Wasting Disease, must be aggressively managed. CWD poses a serious risk to the future health of Montana ungulates as well as to the future of hunting within the State. HHAA encourages hunters to help establish a baseline of state-wide information by providing samples from harvested deer and elk for testing, even in areas that are not currently known to harbor the disease. See the latest news about CWD in Montana as well as information about the disease and ongoing surveillance efforts.

Learn how to properly obtain and submit harvested wildlife samples to test for CWD.