Western Montana Wildlife

Bitterroot Valley Winter Eagle Project:

The Bitterroot Valley contains diverse stakeholders. We’ve experienced rapid growth in recent years, but much of the landscape is still dominated by agricultural activities. Conservation groups like Bitterroot Audubon and the Bitter Root Land Trust have worked hard on voluntary efforts to protect wildlife, working lands, and water in our community. However, like agricultural communities in many areas, our working lands and their stewards are often underappreciated for the habitat services they provide to all community members. We hope to work towards bridging this gap.

This research project is a combination of efforts between Raptor View Research Institute , MPG Ranch , and Bitterroot Audubon . RVRI has been studying overwintering eagles in western Montana since 2011. They have captured over 100 Golden and 30 Bald Eagles, and deployed wing tags, numbered leg bands, and/or satellite transmitters on individuals depending on their species and age.

By placing camera traps on carcasses throughout the Bitterroot Valley, we are hoping to increase the re-sighting rate of marked eagles. We know they rely heavily on private lands in the winter. We know many of our eagles, though they breed elsewhere, return to the Bitterroot Valley year after year. Other project goals include:

-Develop areas where researchers can safely trap eagles for additional banding, marking, and deployment of satellite transmitters

-Collect information on the use and importance of working lands in supporting overwintering eagle population and other scavenging wildlife species

-Encourage dialog between farmers, ranchers, and scientists about conservation issues concerning eagles, landowner needs and management goals, and the positive intersection of these two concepts

-Engage people of many backgrounds in a Citizen Science project

Here are links to research updates on this project:
Winter 2018
Spring 2018

You can also follow our work on the Montana Scavengers Facebook page!

With more than 10,000 acres of conservation property in Western Montana, MPG Ranch stewards large, undeveloped landscapes for wildlife habitat and the enjoyment of future generations. We conduct research and collaborate with other local organizations and researchers that design and implement outreach and public education events. Our researchers specialize in restoration and ecology. We seek new ways to restore lands affected by invasive weeds, herbicide use and other management practices that create disturbances while protecting the lands for future generations. MPG works closely with local conservation groups and researchers to offer educational opportunities to students of all ages. From educational tours of the ranch, to teaching college courses in genetics and hiring interns, we seek to inspire and train the next generation of scientists to protect landscapes.