AWL was recently asked to help fund the construction of a highway underpass in a major wildlife corridor east of Kalispell, MT.

Jay and Sandra Whitney, landowners and ranchers from Bigfork, MT, have been concerned about increases in traffic volumes along Secondary 206 – which bisects their property. They even hired a truck to haul livestock across the road to utilize their adjacent pastures due to safety concerns for both their livestock and the traveling public.

In addition, the Whitney’s have requested a livestock/wildlife underpass be incorporated into a pending Montana Department of Transportation project on that highway. Local residents and state biologists have confirmed that the area is an important movement corridor for elk, deer, black bear, mountain lion, moose, and wild turkey. Grizzly bears use areas 2 miles west and 2 miles east of the proposed project. Clearly, this area is important to wildlife, which is why the Whitney’s, MDT, American Wildlands, and many others have partnered to share ideas and raise funds for an underpass.

AWL is proud to be part of this unique opportunity for wildlife safe passage because it involves a unique partnership with the Montana Department of Transportation, private landowners, and conservation groups – the kind of collaboration that American Wildlands strives to be a part of.

More information about this project can be found in the following articles from the Kalispell Daily Interlake newspaper: