$1.25
your homegrown newspaper January 22, 2025
Vol. 21, No. 19
Key link in Mission Valley Wildlife Corridor protected News from Jennifer Guse, Flathead Land Trust
Montana film pg. 5
Rural grant pg. 16
Story winners pg. 20
MISSION VALLEY — A vital wildlife haven in the Mission Valley was protected on Jan. 17 through a conservation easement with Flathead Land Trust. This easement serves as a crucial link, connecting the Mission Mountain Wilderness to a vast network of over 18,000 acres of previously conserved lands. The 40-acre property provides critical habitat and a travel corridor for grizzly bear and a wide range of wildlife species. Mollman Creek, meandering through the parcel for a third of a mile, and several pothole wetlands provide crucial water sources and riparian habitat. The landowners have observed frequent visits from grizzly bear, black bear, and white-tailed deer along with bobcat, mountain lion, elk, and a myriad of other mammals and birds. Near the Kicking Horse Waterfowl Production Area and Ninepipe National Wildlife
COURTESY PHOTO
A conservation easement for the 40-acre property pictured above will connect the Mission Mountain Wilderness to a network of over 18,000 acres of previously conserved lands.
Refuge, an Important Bird Area designated by Montana Audubon, the property significantly enhances critical bird habitat. The landowners have observed 116 bird species on-site including 11 spe-
cies of concern, such as a great grey owl pair that raised their young on the property, and northern goshawk. This easement provides essential nesting and wintering grounds as well as resting and refuelw w w.va l le yj our na l.net
ing habitat. It lies within a major stopover site in the Intermountain West portion of the Pacific Flyway. The conservation easement also safeguards a unique habitat and a rare
plant species. A skunk cabbage-dominated wetland, similar to a habitat type listed as “imperiled” by the Montana Natural Heritage Program, forms see page 2