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This is before and after logging Bears soon drag off road kill, that explains all bones in the woods. Lets give them a break. |
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Thick natural cover helps them feel secure. That then directs wildlife to safest area to cross valley. Encounters with Moose, Bear, Cougar, Wolves, Pine Martin, Wolverine increased while we have lived here. Logging of this last canopy on private, state and federal forests continual today. I will walk you thought this if you care to come and see ...its not rocket surgery Rick 406-334-4750 |
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In winter migrating big game and protected species funnel from one national forest across the highway to another habitat, they have to skirt around the urban areas...when Spencer Lake area is logged expect them to come thru here also….give them a break. Leave them a Corridor. |
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Left big game once hid and traveled through here. the animals are moving across the valley and they need more shelter than this. Logged in 2007 this is a half mile to the south of our land, this is what's left there now. They now are in our crossing at the highway, I hope for a different approach. Now its home for game camera’s, salt blocks , tree stands and is inviting trespassing on to private land.
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Hungry Bears and Eagles cruise the road looking for the road kill. |
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Purpose of Salish Mountains Wildlife Corridor To save wildlife keep in mind its in inevitable they have to cross this valley and highway somewhere, but where? From Missoula to here 120 miles, from here 120 miles North around Libby Dam, Roaming Bear, Deer, Moose with trailing predators Cougar, Wolves , Grizzly are all skirting North ward around the Flathead Lake, Reservation and Flatheads suburbia. They leave the woods as they draw close to the residential, agriculture and industrial areas, trying to hold to the cover of the timber but at best it funnels them to cross the highway at night and fields in the open country. This migration route is the Flatheads basins northern funneling area. This is an animal bridge of sorts, caused because of the population that’s steamrolling northwest Montana for the last 60 years and 150 years of logging...still taking out the last of timber canopy. On Private, Federal and State. NOTE 2011 Beaver Lake bike trails cut wildlife count in that area by 75%. I did that count last fall. Most wildlife need a sanctuary with cover, protecting wildlife that cross at this vital natural funneling area . I'm Proposing that we purchase some additional lands on the Stillwater River, deadly highway 93 and the farm to market road area this would bring together the two national forests lands. 1/2 mile apart here. Then we create an animal friendly Corridor. Restore the open areas to native habitat, trees, scrubs, brush across this valley ... The Salish Mountains Wildlife Corridor. |
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Flathead National Forest 2009 logged and thinning causing wildlife to move for cover. Spencer Lake is next. Spencer lake 2200 acres, is 2 more miles south. ...no thought to wildlife displaced or habitat loss. Where will they go? don't know but it will be thru here when they to do it. Now New Beaver Lake bike trails cut wildlife count in that area by 75%. In 2011 |
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Our wind rows to help wildlife cross these fields to the Stillwater River and onward to the Flathead national forest and Kootenai-Cabinet-Yaak. We need to act now before land and this habitat availability is lost to development forever. |
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If you were wildlife which forest would you hide, bed, or cross the valley through? This or to the left? |
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The last 30 years we have done all we can to help, we now need others who can help. |
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Rick Hubble photo |
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Why Here? Why Now?... its Vital Keystone in the Corridor
This 960 acre island of Flathead National Forest needs to be saved for wildlife. This is a stepping stone to the last canopied sanctuary for escaping, migrating wildlife, a strip of old thick forest situated naturally along side dense human population. Wildlife are increasingly being burdened by people, loggers, developments in the Flathead and urban sprawl bunching up wildlife have to funnel from the Beaver Lake, Upper Whitefish to Stillwater River, Tally Lake area. State, private and federal logging operations are all affecting wildlife movement with parked out forests. This 960 acres surrounded by industry, recreation trails, agricultural fields, busy highway 93, new home construction, and new roads aggressive urban sprawl run amuck. This vital old thick forests is perfectly located to help wildlife. The big game have used this place to migrate for thousands of years, wildlife cross down off the timbered covered mountains, dash across the valley, Dads fields and the highway, they swim Stillwater River, then back up into the vast wilds of the National Forests or Glacier Park areas. Many never make it, as populations of people increases we observe the wildlife crossing this land also increasing, including Grizzly, Cougar and Wolves.
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Flathead National Forest’s 960 Acres Bordering Us...East |
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Salish Mountains Wildlife Corridor And route migration between Glacier Park and the Cabinet Mountains |
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Salish Mountains Wildlife Corridor |
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Migration route west & our barn. |
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Pictures below of the 960 FNF acres we would like FNF to leave alone and be part of the...
Salish Mountains Wildlife Corridor Beaver Lake North |
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please rethink the logging |
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lived here since 1955 |
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Blue is State Forest Green is National Forest White is Private Land Pink I wana say Railroad ... don’t get old Funnel effect is happing here because its some of the only timber canopy left, has brushy Beaver Lake Mountains, Less urban sprawl-activity, lack of fences, brushy Stillwater River bottom, and Salish Mountains start 1/2 mile dash from the Beaver Lake hills and the fact of narrow highway setbacks.
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Leave this Canopy Habitat |
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Before Logging why Big Game cross thru here, it was logged 2010 |
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Yes it’s brushy, hunters hate it Wildlife love it. This canopy is vital natural cover for shy wildlife |
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That hill is FNF the Big Game use to cross the highway |
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Rick 2025 |
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Rick 1996 |
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Rickey 1956 |
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Below is 960 acres of Flathead National Forest that is partially still untouched and natural as seen in these pictures. This island Forest patch is Vital for the movement of migrating wildlife, connectivity of two Grizzly Recovery Core areas, can we please let it alone because it aides the movement. It is shelter canopy, timber from the Great Fire of 1910. Lets help the wildlife across the upper Flathead Valley, they need this to survive the Flathead Sprawl. Update...its all been logger 2026 |