NATIONAL BISON RANGE Moiese, Montana
ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT Calendar Year 1982
U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM NATIONAL BISON RANGE
Moiese, Montana
ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT
Calendar Year 1982
U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM Review and Approval
S/J'/A-S Submtted By Date Regional Office PERSONNEL
Permanent Full Time
Jon M. Malcolm, Refuge Manager - GS-485-12
E. Merritt, October, 82
Hugh H. Null, Assistant Manager - GS-485-11
E. Merritt, October, 82 William J. Berg, Assistant Manager GS-485-7 Transferred 11/82 E. Merritt, October 83 Victor B. May, Maintenance Foreman WS-4749-6 E. Merritt, October, 82
Grant Hogge, Engineering Equipment Mechanic WG-5803-10 E. Merritt, October, 82
Ernest W. Kraft, Maintenanceman, WG-4749-9 E. Merritt, October, 82 Career Seasonal
Edward G. Krantz, Maintenanceman, VTQ-4749-7 E. Merritt, October, 82
Robert L. Middlemist, Maintenanceman, WG-4749 E. Merritt, October, 83
Temporary Intermittent
Beth Hogg, Education Technician, GS-1702-5 James R. Norgaard, Bio-Aid, GS-404-3
YCC
Kelliann Johnson Daren Thomas TABLE OF CONTENTS
Pa£e
1 A- HIGHLIGHTS 1
B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS 2
C. LAND ACQUISITION
1. Fee Title - Nothing to Report 2. Easements - Nothing to Report 3. Other - Nothing to Report
D. PLANNING
1. Master Plan - Nothing to Report - 2. Management Plan - Nothing to Report 3. Public Participation - Nothing to Report 4. Compliance with Environmental Mandates - Nothing to Report . . 5. Research and Investigations 2
E. ADMINISTRATION
1. Personnel 4 2. Youth Programs 5 3. Other Manpower Programs - Nothing to Report 4. Volunteers Program 5 5. Funding 6 6. Safety 6 7. Technical Assistance 7 8. Other Items 7
F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT
1. General 8 2. Wetlands - Nothing to Report 3. Forests 8 4. Croplands - Nothing to Report 5. Grasslands 8 6. Other Habitats - Nothing to Report 7. Grazing 9 8. Haying 10 9. Fire Management 10 10. Pest Control 11 11. Water Rights 11 12. Wilderness and Special Areas - Nothing to Report 13. WPA Easement Monitoring - Nothing to Report TABLE OF CONTENTS (Cont.) Page
G. WILDLIFE I 1. Wildlife Diversity 12 2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species 12 3. Waterfowl i 12 4. Marsh and Water Birds 13 5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns and Allied Species 13 6. Raptors 13 7. Other Migratory Birds 13 8. Game Mammals 14 9. Marine Mammals - Nothing to Report 10. Other Resident Wildlife 18 11. Fisheries Resources 21 12. Wildlife Propogation and Stocking - Nothing to Report .... 13. Surplus Animal Disposal - 21 14. Scientific Collections 23 15. Animal Control - Nothing to Report 16. Marking and Banding - Nothing to Report 17. Disease Prevention and Control 23
H. PUBLIC USE
1. General 23 2. Outdoor Classrooms - Students 24 3. Outdoor Classrooms - Teachers 24 4. Interpretive Foot Trails- 25 5. Interpretive Tour Routes 25 6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations 26 7. Other Interpretive Programs 28 8. Hunting - Nothing to Report 9. Fishing 28 10. Trapping - Nothing to Report 11. Wildlife Observation 29 12. Other Wildlife Oriented Recreation 29 13. Camping - Nothing to Report 14. Picnicking 30 15. Off-Road Vehicling - Nothing to Report 16. Other Non-Wildlife Oriented Recreation - Nothing to Report. . 17. Law Enforcement 30 18. Cooperating Associations 32 19. Concessions 32
I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES
1. New Construction "32 2. Rehabilitation 33 TABLE OP CONTENTS
Page
I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES (Cont.)
3. Major Maintenance 33 4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement 33 5. Communication Systems 34 6. Energy Conservation 34 7. Other - Nothing to Report
J. OTHER ITEMS
1. Cooperative Programs 34 2. Items of Interest 34 3. Credits 36
K. FEEDBACK 36 A. HIGHLIGHTS
Work was completed on the new visitor center-office building. Displays and exhibits were installed in early spring, and the center was open to the pub lic in May. An "open house" was held June 19, when FWS Director Jantzen was on hand for the official opening and dedication, (Sections H-l and 1-1).
Environmental education activity continued to increase, (Section H-2 and 3).
Visitor numbers at the annual bison roundup were intentionally reduced in 1982, (Section H-12).
Reproduction in the antelope and bighorn sheep herds was very poor, (Sec- tion G-8).
A mild sunny day greeted visitors at the "open house" cermonies. A crowd of 350 showed up to hear the Director and other dignitaries speak.
K. Olson, June 82
Director Jantzen officially opening the new visitor center. Assisting is Refuge Manager Jon Malcolm. On left Master of Cer monies George Ostrom looking on.
K. Olson, June 82 Artwork by Ernie Kraft 2
B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
The month of January, which is usually our coldest month, was relatively mild, with only two days of below zero temperatures recorded. However, our balmy winter ended in February, when eight consecutive days had temperature read ings below zero. Snowfall for January and February amounted to 21 inches. Despite the above average snowfall, all big game species came through the winter in good shape. Precipitation from March through May was more than one inch above normal for the period. Cool-season buhchgrasses responded to the extra moisture and range green-up was earlier than normal. Summer months continued to be wetter than normal, with over 2.5 inches of rainfall recorded in June alone. Weeds, especially goatweed (Hypericum perforatum), took advan tage of the late spring-early summer moisture and spread in several areas. Kentucky bluegrass and red three-awn were also quite prevalent. Fall months were mild. The first snowfall occurred on November 11. The year ended with relatively mild temperatures and bare ground.
1982 Weather
Precipitation 30-Year Month High Low 1982 Average Snow
January 50 -16 0.70 0.99 15.00 February 59 -21 0.74 0.56 6.00 March 63 18 1.77 0.68 2.00 April 77 11 0.85 1.03 May 88 22 1.72 1.50 June 94 32 2.51 1.98 July 96 37 1.53 0.95 Auqust 05 35- 0.75 1.00 September 90 26 1.99 1.02 October 75 16 0.85 0.89 November 55 3 0.62 0.76 5.25 December 55 -7 0.70 0.85 8.25 14.73 12.21 36.50
D. PLANNING
5. Research and Investigations
National Bison Range NR82 - Sarcocystis in Wild Herbivores and Coyotes of the National Bison Range (61540-31) Daniel B. Pond, Montana Coop erative Wildlife Research Unit
Field work on this study was completed in 1981, and a final report (M.S. Thesis) was received this year. A high incidence of the common parasite Sarcocystis hemionilatrantis was found in mule deer, white-tailed deer, eik, and coyotes collected on the Bison Range. An additional species of 3
Sarcocystis (as yet undescribed) was found in elk. Coyotes, the defini tive host, were experimentally infected from meat of all three intermed iate hosts. Nine of twelve mule deer fawns successfully infected with Sarcocystis that had been passed through coyotes developed pathogenic symptoms and died.
The study concluded that "wildlife managers should be aware of this com mon and pathogenic parasite because S^. hemionilatrantis may have direct or indirect impacts on deer populations." However, under natural con ditions on the Bison Range, the parasite is presently not seriously affecting the health or productivity of deer and elk.
National Bison Range NR82 - The Role of Body Size in Herbivore Competi tion (61540-33) Gary E. Belovsky and Jennifer Slade, University of Wash ington
Field data collection continued on the Bison Range and surrounding vici nity in 1982. Mr. Belovsky and his assistants also helped us by document ing production and species composition on a 20Tacre spring prescribed grassland burn and three adjacent treatment types on the eastern edge of the range.
National Bison Range NR82 - A Study of Social Organization, Social Be havior, and Population Dynamics in Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep on the National Bison Range (61540-34) Jack Hogg, Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit -
Jack Hogg completed field work on this study in 1982, and it was taken over by Chris Hass (see 61540-38). A final report has not been received to date.
National Bison Range NR82 - Social Organization, Dominance and Reproduc tion Among Female American Bison (61540-35) Allen Rutberg, University of Washington
A progress report received in February, 1982, stated an emerging conclu sion that age is a critical factor in the social organization of bison. Older cows achieve high dominance status. Cows appear to prefer mating with older bulls rather than dominate bulls. Observation of female bison was completed during the 1982 field season. A final report was due January 1, 1983, but has not been received to date.
National Bison Range NR82 - Behavorial Development in Pronghorn (Antilo- capra americana) 61540-36 John A. Byers, University of Idaho
This was the second season of field work on this study. Mr. Byers esti mated that 45 antelope does should have had fawns and that 90 fawns should have been born on the range. Twenty-six fawns, three or more days old, were tagged for study purposes. Only one of the tagged fawns survived until fall (4 per cent). Only four of the estimated 64 untagged fawns survived until fall(6 per cent). Mr. Byers's data and observations in dicated coyote predation as the primary mortality factor, and no differ ence between survival of tagged and untagged fawns. On the assumption that mortality in 1983 will continue at 95 per cent, Mr. Byers has re quested permission to tag as many fawns as possible in order to have an adequate sample of surviving fawns. However, we plan to authorize tagging of up to 50 fawns, which is about 40 percent of the antici pated fawn crop.
National Bison Range NR82 - Generational Gene Flow in a Population of American Bison Reproducing Without Artificial Mate Selection (61540- 37) Dale Lott, University of California and Clyde Stormont, Stormont Laboratories, California
This was the second year of a long-term study. Bipod samples were taken from all calves at roundup and sent to Stormont Laboratories for blood typing and electrophoretic analysis of carbolic anhydrase markers. Results to date show the Bison Range animals to be genet ically distinct and less diverse than the herd at Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, where a similar study is being done. As this study progresses, it could have important implications on management deci sions.
National Bison Range NR82 - Bighorn Sheep Social Behavior, Ecology and Management Practices 61540-38 Donald A. Jenni and Christine Hass, Montana Coop Wildlife Research Unit
This study is an outgrowth of 61540-34, and is scheduled for two phases. The first will involve removal (transplanting to other areas in Montana) of legal-sized (3/4 curl or better) rams from the population over a two year period to determine the effects of hunting on productivity of the herd. Following this phase, rams will be reintroduced from other herds to determine the effects of introducing new blood.
Chris Hass began field work on the study this year, but due to poor reproduction it was decided to delay removal of the first group of rams until 1983.
Clinical Sarcocystis in Neonatal Bison Fed Sarcocystis cruzi sporo- cysts Derived from Cattle J.P. Dubey, Research Veterinarian, Montana State University
Two newborn bison calves were donated to Dr. Dubey for this study. Previous to this, it was known that cattle could be affected by Sar- cocystis from bison through coyotes. Dr. Dubey*s study was the first to show that the opposite can also occur. He was successful in infect ing the bison calves with Sarcocystis obtained by feeding the heart of a naturally affected domestic cow to a coyote. One calf died of Sarcocystis symptoms and the second survived until sacrificed for ne cropsy. It was concluded that £. cruzi of cattle is transmissible to bison.
S. ADMINISTRATION
Personnel (Refuge Complex)
Bill Berg left the second assistant manager position to transfer to the wetlands manager position at J. Clark Salyer WMD in North Dakota. Bill's primary duties here were to oversee management of Ninepipe and Pablo NWR* and three WPA's. These duties will be taken over by Assistant Man ager Hugh Null.
Babe May went on prolonged sick leave in mid-November for knee surgery. Surgery is scheduled for his other knee in February, 1983, and Babe plans on retiring April 30, 1983.
Permanent 1982 Full-time Part-time .Temporary
1982 82 2 1981 74 1 1980 83 1 1979 93 0 1978 93 0
A small celebration was held for local ranch neighbor, Grant Hovde, at roundup this year. Grant has been branding bison calves here for over 30 years. He announced that 1982 would be his last roundup with us. E. Merritt, Oct. 1982
Youth Programs
Although there was no special funding for youth programs in 1982, we hired two YCC enrollees, from June 'through August, at the direc tion of the Regional Office. One assisted in the office and helped at the reception desk in the new visitor center, while the second en- rollee assisted with grounds care and general maintenance work. We were well satisfied with the work of both.
Volunteer Programs
Several area school teachers and parents assisted with a teacher's out- dpor education workshop and a summer outdoor education day camp for grade school students. 6
Approximately 80 students from the University of Montana and local high schools assisted with the annual winter big game count.
5. Funding (Refuge Complex)
Overall funding for the Bison Range and satellite waterfowl areas was adequate, and increased enough to keep up with inflation. However, funding for the 1210 program is more than adequate, while the 1240 fund ing is inadequate. Even though the ORP position vacated in 1981 was not filled, start-up and operation of the new visitor center took up the slack and then some in FY 82. The 1240 fund was overspent by 16,000, while 1210 was underspent by $10,000 and 1220 underspent by 6,000.
O&M FY 1210 1220 1240 6820 Total BLHP
1983* 65,000 174,000 100,000 30,000 369,000 1982 65,000 149,300 95,000 17,000 326,300 1981 65,000 121,000 94,000 17,000 2^7,000 1980 79,000 103,000 84,000 10,000 276,000 1979 81,800 104,000 85,000 10,000 280,000 814,600 *Preliminary Target Figures
6. Safety Monthly Safety meetings were held throughout the year. Safety topics ranged from fire pumper operation to hypothermia. The responsibility of Safety Committee Chairman was alternated among staff members, with each person assuming the position at least once during the year.
A basic life support course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation was given to staff members in April by instructors from the Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative.
In September, members of "Life Flight", an emergency helicopter medical team from St. Patrick's Hospital in Missoula, accepted our invitation to visit the Range and explain their program. Considering the number of visitors we have each summer and the accident potential we face, it's somewhat comforting to know that an air ambulance, complete with nurse, can be on the scene within 15 minutes after notification.
Pilot & paramedic from Life Flight, brief refuge staff on medical evacuation procedures. If needed chopper can be at Bison Range in less than 1/2 hour.
W. Berg, Sept. 1982 7
Safety activities that were completed during the year included:
1. Nomex fire retardent clothing was purchased for all personnel with fire fighting duties.
2. Protective hearing devices were purchased.
3. Residential oil furnaces and vents were cleaned.
4. The new visitor center access road was ditched on the uphill side to prevent water from running across the road, freezing, and creating a driving hazard.
5. Wooden railings and weakened boards in catwalks at the bison corrals were replaced.
6. Unsafe dead trees were removed from the picnic area.
7. Unsafe wooden steps were replaced with steel steps at the bison corrals.
8. Defective fire extinguishers in vehicles were replaced.
9. Powerlines in the residence-shop areas were converted from overhead to underground. Due to the proximity of the overhead lines to some of the buildings, fire suppression would have been difficult with overhead lines in place.
10. Horses were exercised regularly throughout the year to assure proper conditioning of both horse and rider.
No lost-time accidents occurred during the year.
7. Technical Assistance
Manager Malcolm provided technical assistance to the Montana State Parks Division by making a field review and recommendations on the feasibility of running small herds of bison at Madison Buffalo Jump, Plenty Coups, and Rosebud Battlefield State Monuments.
8• Other Items
Late in 1981, local newspapers reported that the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation had made a formal request to the Department of Interior to take over administration and management of the National Bison Range on contract. This request was answered by Direc tor Jantzen at the June "open house" for the new visitor center. He advised reporters at a news conference that there was no legal basis for the request, and that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would continue to administer and manage the Bison Range. Tribal Chairman Tom Pablo appeared on the open house program, and later advised reporters that the Tribes had backed off on the request. This question, which has come up before, was thus put to rest once again.
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F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT
1. General
Management of habitat continued under the Habitat Management Plan comple ted and approved in 1981. Primary habitat management measures were the deferred-rotation grazing system for the two main bison herds, removal of excess numbers of bison and other big game animals, and a noxious weed control program to protect native grasslands from encroachment by exotic plant species.
3. Forests
Field reviews of timbered habitat types were made with personnel of the U.S. Forest Service, Montana State Forest Service, and the University of Montana. The need for a timber habitat management plan on approximately 2,600 acres of Ponderosa-pine and Douglas-fir timber stands was discussed, along with possible management options. Prescribed burning seems to be the best management option for improving habitat' values in several areas of thick Douglas-fir reproduction. Small test burns on two areas were planned for 1983.
5. Grasslands
This was the third consecutive year that rainfall amounts and patterns favored the growth of exotic noxious weed species over that of deep- rooted native bunchgrasses. Resulting increases in extent, density, and vigor of dalmation toadflax (Linarea dalmatica), spotted knapweed (Cen- tauria maculosa), and especially goatweed (Hypericum perforatum) were quite evident. Since the range grasslands have been well managed with moderate grazing rates under a deferred-rotation grazing system for the past 20-plus years, noxious weed problems on the range dispell the theory, at least for this situation, that weed problems are solely the result of overuse or improper management. .
Pronghorn, native grasslands, and the Mission Mountains, as seen from the Manager's desk.
J. Malcolm, April 82 9
Range Conservationist Frank Kirschten, of the SCS, visited twice during the year for a general review of range conditions. Surveys were also done and carrying capacities established for two new 200-acre display pastures near headquarters and the visitor center. Mel Morris, former range professor at the University of Montana also visited in the summer for a general review and discussion of range grasslands and weed control problems i
Parker 3-step transects were run in the Alexander Basin and Upper North range units. Comparison of results with 1978 data on these same transects showed no change in plant composition, vigor and relative plant density. Most transects indicated "good" range condition classes and stable trend, with a high percentage composition of Idaho fescue, bluebunch wheatgrass, and rough fescue. However some areas continued in high percentage of Kentucky bluegrass.
Despite this year's above normal growing season precipitation, forage 2 production was apparently down. Researcher Gary Belovsky found 328 g/m wet weight forage production on his Pauline Cre^k plots compared to 439 g/m in 1978, a year of similar precipitation patterns. 2Plots in the Alexander Basin yielded 374 g/m in 1982 compared to 460 g/m in 1978.
7. Grazing
The schedule and degree of bison grazing use under the deferred-rotation system is shown in the following table.
1982 Bison Grazing
Unit Acres AUM's Season
Lower West 2,318 417 Jan.-Mar. Southwest 2,314 399 Jan.-Mar Upper West 1,789 399 Apr.-June Upper South 1,598 393 Apr.-June Alexander Basin 2,310 393 July-Sept. Upper North 2,292 399 July-Sept. Lower South 2,164 377 Oct.-Dec. Northside 2,029 459 Oct.-Dec. Total 3,236
Use on any one unit is rotated through a cycle of summer-spring-winter- fall over a 4-year period. Each unit is used during the critical spring growing season only once in 4 years and each unit is deferred for a full 18 months during the 4-year period. This type of buffalo grazing manage ment is essential to maintaining good range condition, and especially, stands of rough fescue, a native key species highly preferred by buffalo.
This was the first year of grazing use by display bison in the 200-acre display pasture fenced out from the Northside Range just east of Jiead- quarters. Five head of bison were cut out from Herd 1 and placed in this pasture from June 15 through September 30. The area was also grazed by 5-6 head of display elk year-long, resulting in a total of about 60 AUM's for the year. This exceeds SCS rated capacity of 36 AUM's, 10
but overall utilization was still only moderate. However, the unit will not withstand this level of use indefinitely, and plans are to begin al ternating use seasons between this pasture and another new 200-acre dis play pasture just south of the visitor center. This will allow proper use on both areas and maintenance of good range condition in the long run.
8. Haying
Approximately 30 acres in 4 tracts at the headquarters area and 4 acres on the north side of Mission Creek were hayed this year. The yield, mainly in the form of Kentucky bluegrass, was very light due to lack of moisture during the early part of the growing season. A total of 15 tons was mowed and raked by refuge personnel, and baled by a cooperator. Most of the 30 large round bales will be used for goose nesting platforms on the waterfowl areas administered from the Bison Range.
9. Fire Management
One small prescribed burn was conducted on a 20-acre tract in the north east part of the refuge in early April. This was one of two range tracts that are outside the big game fence, but protected from private livestock grazing by stock fence only since 1977.
The burn was conducted in late afternoon of April 10 with a starting temperature ot 66 F, relative humidity of 27 percent and NW wind at 6-9 MPH. The east and southwest sides of the tract were backfired prior to setting a quartering headfire on the north side. Marginal burning conditions developed before the burn was complete and the treatment was spotty in places.
At the end of the growing season, litter, current year's plant production, and species composition was documented on the burned area and three adja cent land use tyoes on the same basic site with the following results.
Weights of Litter and 1982 Plant Production g/m2 wet weights
Control Burned Bison Range Grazing (Non-use (Non-use Unit-Deferred Rotation Private Grazing (since 1977) since 1977) (Some annual big game use) (Annual & Heavy)
Litter 225 0 216 0.6 Grass 231 255 183 99 Forb 60 34 26 17 Total Production 1982 291 289 209 116
We plan to continue monitoring these areas in the future to see if any longer term trends under the same management treatments can be detected. 11
10. Pest Control
The relatively wet spring (the third in a row) was very beneficial to weeds. Goatweed, spotted knapweed, dalmation toadflax, musk thistle, and Canada thistle took advantage of the extra moisture. Fortunately for us, we weren't forced to fight all the weeds with herbicides alone. The musk thistle weevil, Rhinocyllus conicus, transplanted to the Range from the Gallatin Valley from 1974-1980, continues to exert control over the spread of the weed. Alexander Basin, which was noticably infected with musk thistle last year, had much less of an infestation this year due, largely, to the work of the weevil. Two other biological agents are providing little or no noticeable control at this time. The goat- weed beetle, Chrysolina sp., again occurred in numbers inadequate to control goatweed and the spotted knapweed gall fly, Urophora affinis, was, likewise, not abundant to the extent needed to do the job.
Areas infested with dalmation toadflax were treated with Tordon 2K (pic- loram) pellets. Due to the steep, rocky nature of the infested areas, access was by horseback. Essentially all grazing units were traversed by 4-6 riders, and toadflax patches or individual plants were treated as they were encountered. In this way, we hope to stay on top of the problem and prevent the plant from spreading to the point where it is no longer economically feasible to control. A total of 1,500 pounds of pellets were placed on the range at a rate of 50 pounds per acre. Con trol with Tordon 2K pellets was good. Some fairly large patches of toadflax were reduced in size by 80-90 percent.
Approximately 179 acres of rangeland were treated with 2,4-D for control of spotted knapweed, Canada and musk thistle. An additional 66 acres were treated with a mixture of 2,4-D and picloram (Tordon 22K) for con trol of whitetop, goatweed, dalmation toadflax, and musk thistle. Treated areas were primarily along the 19-mile tour road and range service roads. Control was good to excellent on the treated areas with an estimated kill of 75-90 percent of the target .species.
Approximately 2.7 acres of tall wheatgrass and alfalfa were treated around the office/visitor center in July. Two gallons of glyphosate (Roundup) were used to prepare the area for seeding with bluebunch wheatgrass and rough fescue. Seeding rates were 11.5 pounds PLS and 5 pounds PLS per acre, respectively. The area was watered through the summer to encourage a good stand of native grasses. The tall wheatgrass and alfalfa mixture had been mistakenly seeded instead of native grass in 1981.
11. Water Rights
Regional Engineering personnel used field data previously collected to make water rights filings on 3 domestic wells, 92 springs or other stock watering facilities, 1 irrigation system, and 3 ponds on the Bison Range. The adjudication process is expected to take quite some time. The Indian Water Rights issue may confuse matters, as the Bison Range is within the exterior boundaries of the Flathead Indian Reservation.
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G. WILDLIFE
1. Wildlife Diversity
The Bison Range has an excellent inherent diversity of wildlife habitat types, ranging from riverbottom and brushy draw riparian types, to steep peaks with rock outcrops and talus slopes. The variety of habitat types provides for approximately 185 species of birds and 40 species of mammals. Other than managing to maintain the present habitat in good condition, there were no specific measures taken during the year to increase wildlife diversity.
2. Endangered or Threatened Species
Two bald eagles made regular use of stream habitat along Mission Creek in the northern portion of the Bison Range.
3. Waterfowl
Ducks
Up to 500 ducks, mostly mallards, wintered along Mission Creek. Other species commonly seen were common mergansers, common goldeneyes, Ameri can widgeon, and green-winged teal.
Ducks also used Mission Creek and adjacent oxbow wetlands, and several watering ponds on small drainages during the breeding season. A pair count in early May on Mission Creek indicated 41 pairs of mallards, 2 pairs of hooded mergansers, and 1 pair of green-winged teal. A few pairs of wood ducks were also observed during the spring and summer months. A check of 8 wood duck boxes revealed signs of use in 3. Duck production on the Bison Range was estimated at 120 birds this year.
Canada Geese
Aerial goose breeding pair census on April 16 revealed 7 pairs and 1 group of 8 Canada geese on Mission Creek. Inspection of 13 available goose nest ing structures along the creek showed that 8 had been used. An aerial brood census on June 18 showed 21 goslings, down from the 33 recorded in 1981, and the 8-year average of 26.
The Bison Range does raise something besides buffalo.
B. Berg, April 1982 13
4. Marsh and Water Birds
Great blue herons were commonly seen along Mission Creek. Common snipes and soras were present along Mission Creek and at Ravalli Ponds through out the spring and summer months.
5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns and Allied Species
Killdeer nested at several locations throughout the range and were com- monly seen near creeks, springs, ponds and watertanks.
6. Raptors
Raptor sightings on the Bison Range decreased from 1981, quite likely due to a crash in mouse populations. However, American kestrels, marsh hawks, red-tailed hawks, and great horned owls nested and were commonly seen. Rough-legged hawks were seen quite often, particularly during the migration seasons.
One barred owl was seen several times in early spring in the picnic area vicinity, but a suspected nest could not be located. Short-eared owls were seen in the Alexander Basin area in the fall, but were not as com mon as in 1981.
A pair of golden eagles was present throughout the spring and summer, and were seen most commonly in the Tower 2 area. A few golden eagles were seen during the fall migration season.
7. Other Birds
Rufous and broad-tailed hummingbirds were seen at feeders in the resi dence area throughout the summer. Winter feeders were frequented by evening grosbeaks, dark-eyed juncos, hairy woodpeckers, house sparrows, black-capped chickadees and magpies.
In cooperation with Art Aylesworth of the Bluebird Society, 12 new blue bird boxes were put up on the range, bringing total boxes to 20. Although bluebirds are occasionally seen, there is no evidence of use in the boxes to date.
Hugh Null participated in the Five Valleys Audubon Chapter's Christmas Bird Count by counting the headquarters and Mission Creek portion of the range. The results are listed below.
1982 Christmas Bird Count Mission Creek and Headquarters Area 22 Species
Common Merganser 2 Black-billed Magpie 37 Starling 10 Mallard 61 Gray Partridge 5 Black-capped Chickadee 17 Common Goldeneye 4 Ring-necked Pheasant 3 Dark-eyed Junco 13 Pintail 1 House Sparrow 10 Song Sparrow 4 Green-winged Teal 11 Bohemian Waxwing 2,,000 Downy Woodpecker 1 Great Blue Heron 1 Common Flicker 2 Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 Marsh Hawk 2 Townsend Solitare 13 Belted Kingfisher 2 Robin 16 14
Game Mammals a. Annual Big Game Winter Drive Census
The annual winter big game count was conducted on February 27, with assistance from approximately 90 area high school students and biology teachers and wildlife students from the University of Montana. Snow cover was absent except in timbered areas and weather was good. Re sults were 5
1982 Winter Big Game Drive Census
Species Number Counted
Elk 134 Mule Deer 259 White-tailed Deer 251 Pronghorn 105 Bighorn Sheep 53 Mountain Goats 2f5
This census is a key part of the big game management program on the Bison Range.
b. Elk
The east side elk herd, including about 40 head of cows held together by one herd bull, are mostly descendants of tame elk from the old ex hibition elk pasture near headquarters. This herd used open areas - Ravalli Ponds, Telephone Mountain, Trisky Creek, throughout the year. Most of the remaining elk on the range used the central and southwest portions in or adjacent to timbered escape cover. Six head of elk, including one mature bull, 3 cows, 1 yearling bull, and a calf were kept in the new 200-acre display pasture east of headquarters.
Mid-summer herd composition counts are summarized below.
1982 Mid-Summer Elk Herd Composition Counts n=76 No. Per Cent
Branch Antlered Bulls 22 29 Spike Bulls 2 3 Cows 34 44 Calves ' 18 24 53 calves/100 cows
Application of the herd composition count data to the winter results , less known winter loss of 2 branch-antlered bulls resulted in a fall population estimate of 173 elk, including 50 branch antlered bulls, 4 spike bulls, 78 cows and 41 calves. 15
Approval was obtained from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks for a winter removal of elk, and 38 head were scheduled for transplant to the Yaak River Country in January, 1983.
Mule Deer
The mule deer population used mainly the higher, more rugged areas of the range. Known winter mortality was minimal, but reproduction and fawn survival was somewhat below normal.
Early fall herd composition count results are shown below.
1982 Mule Deer Fall Composition Counts n=186 Age/Sex Class No. Per Cent
Adult Male 51 » 27 Adult Female 79 42 Yrlq. Male 8 4 Yrlg. Female 10 5 Fawn 38 21 48 fawns/100 does
Using the winter big game count less known mortality as a base, and the above fall composition counts, we calculated an estimated fall population of 322 mule deer. A deer reduction program was conducted in early November, when 50 mule deer were removed. Removals and fall population estimates are shown below.
1982 Mule Deer Fall Population Estimates and Removals
Pre-Removal No. Post Removal Age/Sex Class Estimate Removed Estimate
Adult Male 90 26 64 Adult Female 136 20 116 Yearling Male 13 3 10 Yearling Female 18 1 17 Fawn 65 0 65 Total 322 50 272
The proportion of yearlings in the population is low despite a 1981 ratio of 62 fawns/100 does. This' indicates that 1981-82 winter mor tality of young mule deer was quite likely higher than what field observations revealed.
White-tailed Deer
Reproduction and fawn survival in the white-tailed deer population was lower than for mule deer. However, the yearling population was higher and the white-tail population appeared in good shape. The 16 white-tails used primarily riparian habitat in the Mission Creek, Pauline Creek and Indian Springs areas where fawns may be more vul nerable to coyote predation.
The results of early fall composition counts were;
1982 White-tailed Deer Fall Composition Counts n=135 Age/Sex Class No. Per Cent
Adult Male 25 19 Adult Female 58 43 Yrlg. Male 11 8 Yrlg. Female 19 14 Fawn 22 16 38 fawns/100 does
Results of the composition counts, applied»to the winter count, yielded a fall population estimate of 300. Fifty head were removed in the November reduction program.
1982 White-tailed Deer Removals and Fall Population Estimates
Pre-Removal No. Post-Removal Age/Sex"Class Estimate Removed Estimate
Adult Male 55 12 43 Adult Female 128 27 101 Yrlg. Male 25 2 23 Yrlg. Female 43 6 37 Fawn 49 3 46 Total 300 50 250
One known mortality of a mature white-tailed buck was discovered in early December. The animal was apparently leg shot by poachers and subsequently taken by coyotes. e. Pronghorn
A total of 134 pronghorns was tallied in the winter big game count, but there were indications of duplication, so refuge personnel made a count of all antelope use areas the following Monday. A total of 105 was recorded on this count, and the winter count records were ad justed accordingly. Hie latter figure agrees well with data provided by University of Idaho researcher John Byers, who studied the popula tion from May through October.
Based on Mr. Byers's data, the spring population was 105 animals as shown on the following page. 17
1982 Pronghorn Population Data
Spring Fawns* Fall Age/Sex Class Population Born Population
Adult Male 40 40 Adult Female 43 43 Yrlg. Male 5 5 Yrlg. Female 17 16 Fawn 90 5 Total 105 109 •Estimated from count of pregnant does. Surviving fawns = 12/100 adult does
Fawn mortality, estimated at 94 per cent, was exceedingly high com pared to past averages of around 45 per cent. Field observations provided circumstantial evidence that coyote predation was responsible Only 5 fawns survived until July 1, and most disappeared when 2-3 weeks old. This fits the pattern from other studies throughout the west where coyote predation on pronghorn fawns has been high. Fawn tagging as discussed in Section D-5, resulted in no significant dif ference in fawn mortality.
The proportion of yearlings in the population is fairly good and the current population is fully adequate for public viewing opportunity. So long as the population maintains itself, the coyote predation is not detrimental to our objectives. Coyote densities were high in 1982, probably due to a high cycle in mouse populations in 1981. We suspect that coyote density and predation on pronghorn fawns will decrease following a crash in rodent numbers in the winter of 1982. At any rate, we plan to monitor the situation another year before giving serious consideration to coyote predation control measures.
The above population figures include one doe and fawn that somehow got through the east boundary fence during the summer. To date we have been unable to get this pair back into the Range, but they sur prisingly survived until year's end.
Bighorn Sheep
The year began with a count of 53 head in the bighorn sheep population The sheep were followed closely all year by graduate students of Mon tana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit. Mortality in the base herd totaled 6 animals, or 11.3 per cent during the year. Five ewes died during the winter and 1 died during lambing season. With the excep tion of one 5 1/2 year-old, all were 7 1/2 or older. Ram mortality included one 11 1/2 year old that died in early fall.
Survival of lambs was very low this year. Of 22 ewes known bred in the. 1981 rut, lambs were born to 17-19. Lamb mortality was heavy during the first 2 to 3 weeks of age, and only 2 survived until fall (11 per cent survival rate). Coyote predation was suspected as the chief mortality factor. 18
1982 End-of-Year Bighorn Sheep Population
Sex/Age Lamb 1^ 2*5 3^ 4h 5h Total
Male 2 5 2 1 0 2 3 7 22 Female 0 5 5 1 1 3 3 9 27 Total 2 10 7 2 1 5 6 16 49
The population is heavy toward older animals and is barely holding its own. The research plan to remove all 3/4 .curl or better rams starting in 1982 was delayed because of the poor lamb survival (see Section D-5). We are hoping for better reproduction in 1983, so that there will be some sheep available for the visiting public during the next few years of research. g. Mountain Goats
Mountain goats are extremely difficult to count accurately by any method due to the character of their preferred habitat on the Range. Although only 14 were counted during the winter big game count, 23 had been seen in one group a few days earlier, so the winter figure was adjusted to an estimated 25 animals.
At least 8 different kids were seen during the spring, but survival information is lacking. One mature male was found dead near Snake Pit in July. The year-end population was estimated at 30 goats. h. Black Bear
Five signtings of black bears were made on the Bison Range in 1982. One cinnamon-colored black bear was seen three times during spring along the scenic tour between the Pauline and Elk Creek drainages. Another normal colored animal was seen in May near the tour switch backs above Turkey Woman Draw. Researcher Chris Hass sighted an other on Triskey Creek in October.
A few black bears apparently move into the Range during spring and summer from the Mission Mountains. There was no evidence of bear denning on the Range.
Other Resident Wildlife a. Bison
A total of 334 bison were turned back on the range following the 1981 roundup. In addition, one bull, 2 cows, and 2 calves were kept in the irrigated exhibition pasture near the residences. Rotation of the two main buffalo herds among the various range units is dis cussed in Section F-5.
Known mortality recorded this year totaled 9 animals for a 2.6 per cent herd loss. Mortality of 7 mature bulls was higher than normal, and occurred mainly during the rut. Two yearling heifers died in the j,,. spring, apparently due to acute toxemia resulting from infected in 19 juries. One of these was brought in and treated with antibiotics, but was later destroyed when it suffered a relapse after being turned out.
Buffalo calves were first noted on April 21. The calf crop tallied at roundup was 85 head. Two calves removed in May for research pur poses brought the tally to 87 calves from 101 breeding age cows for a calf crop of 86 per cent, slightly below the 1956-81 average of 88.4 per cent.
All range units were swept by crews on horseback during the two-weeks prior to roundup. Only three bulls were known to be left on the range. The final roundup tally left us 3 animals short from 1981. This could have resulted from one or a combination of reasons, including talley error, unknown mortality during the year or unknown strays missed in the gathering operation.
At roundup, all calves were year branded on the left hip, blood was drawn for the blood typing-genetics study'and all calves were ear- tagged. Heifer calves were vaccininated with the new, low dosage brucellosis vaccine. In addition, all animals were treated with Spot-On (2 per cent fenthion for heel fly, grub control) and received a shot of 5-way leptospirosis vaccine. Sale animals were also tested for brucellosis and the necessary health certificates were issued. The majority of animals were weighed and results are listed below. Weights in most age classes were above long-term averages.
1982 Bison Weights (lbs.) at Roundup
Male Female Age Range Average Range Average
Calves 180- 440 364 120- 410 313 Yearlings 580- 750 712 540- 700 630 2 800-1,320 919 740- 960 834 3 1,200-1,320 1,271 900-1,080 966 4 1,260-1,530 1,403 880-1,000 967 5 1,200-1,880 1,614 960-1,140 1,030 6 1,520-1,850 1,753 940-1,260 1,064 7 1,720-1,890 1,812 1,040-1,160 1,087 8 1,740-1,950 1,816 880-1,160 1,021 9 1,780-1,860 1,813 1,040-1,040 1,040 10 + 1,480-1,840 1,722 940-1,200 1,073
Numbers and composition of the two main range herds after roundup are shown on the next page. 20
Bison Herd Composition October 5, 1982
Herd 1 Herd 2 Total Age Male Female Total AO's Male Female Total AO's Male Female Total
Calves 24 28 52 15.6 11 20 31 9.3 35 48 83 1 12 15 27 17.4 14 10 24 15.8 26 25 51 2 10 12 22 19.6 9 12 21 18.6 19 24 43 3 6 7 13 14.1 7 7 14 15.2 13 14 27 4 4 10 14 14.6 6 4 10 12.0 10 14 24 5 4 9 13 14.5 5 4 9 11.6 9 13 22 6 4 5 9 11.8 2 5 "7 8.4 6 10 16 7 3 3 6 8.1 1 5 6 6.7 4 8 12 8 2 7 9 10.4 3 4 7 12.1 5 11 16 9 2 1 3 4.6 1 3 4 4.8 3 4 7 10 1 1 2 2.8 2 - 2 3.6 3 1 4 11 2 — 2 3.6 - 1 1 2.8 2 1 3 12 1 1 2 2.8 - 1 1 2.8 1 2 3 13 1 - 1 1.8 - - - - - 1 _ 1 14 1 1 2 2.8 - 1 1 1.0 1 2 . 3 15 1 1 2 2.8 -- - - - 1 1 2 16 1 1 2 2.8 - -- - - 1 1 2 17 - 1 1 1.0 1 1 2 2.8 1 2 3 18 - 1 1 1.0 -- — _ 1 1 19 - 1 1 1.0 ------1 1
20 ------1 1 1.0 - 1 1
Total 79 105 184 153.1 62 79 141 125.5 141 184 325
Note: Figures do not include one 15-year old bull, one 17-year old cow, one 9-year old cow, and two heifer calves in the exhibition pasture.
b. Coyotes
Coyote numbers remained hiah, and coyote predation was suspected as the main factor in very poor young "survival rates in the pronghorn and bighorn sheep populations. We anticipate coyote numbers to de crease in 1983 due to a 1982 crash in mouse populations. Year-end population was estimated at 40.
c. Blue Grouse
Blue grouse were seen commonly in the higher, timbered areas of the Range. Dancing males provided visitor viewing and photography oppor tunities at a few spots along the scenic trail. Several broods were 21
sighted on patrols and during buffalo moves. The fall population was estimated at 50 birds. d. Gray Partridge
Gray partridge or "Huns" were commonly seen in the lower, open grass land habitat. The population was estimated at 125 in the fall.
Fishery Resources
Public fishing activity indicated a good population of rainbow trout, whitefish, and a few brown trout on the Jocko River. Mission Creek held a good population of rainbow trout and some whitefish, along with plenty of squawfish and suckers.
Surplus Animal Disposal a. Deer Disposal
Excess big game removals included 50 mule deer and 50 white-tailed deer taken by refuge personnel in an early November reduction pro gram. The animals were hog-dressed in the slaughter house and do nated to 8 different area schools for use in their hot lunch programs. The schools indicated that the donations were worth about $100 per deer in savings to their budgets, for a total value to the community of $10,000. b. Sealed Bid Live Sale of Bison
A total of 81 head of buffalo was sold by sealed bid live sales. Bid sheets were issued August 10, with a September 13 opening date. Successful bidders were required to pick up their animals at roundup, October 6-8. We also sold one yearling bull for C.M. Russell Refuge at Lewistown, and one for the Corp of Engineers at Fort Peck, which were picked up there by the buyers. Sales results are listed below.
1982 Sealed Bid Bison Sale
Successful Bids No. Low High Average Total Sex Age Sold Bid Bid Bid Amount
Female Yearling 15 $500.00 $502.00 $500.48 $ 7,507.22 ll 2 1 426.00 426.00 426.00 426.00 M 3 5 351.00 650.00 422.70 2,113.50 11 4 1 551.00 ,551.00 551.00 551.00 II 7 2 665.00 689.00 677.00 1,354.00 Jl 10 + 10 609.00 650.00 647.00 6/469.00 Male Yearling 24 375.00 525.00 416.30 9,991.17 ll 2 5 360.00 750.00 474.20 2,371.02 ll 3 7 501.00 900.00 622.71 4,359.00 22
Male 4 5 $ 765.00 $1,100.00 $ 832.00 $ 4,359.00 II 5 1 1,050.00 1,050.00 1,050.00 1,050.00 II 6 2 1,155.00 1,155.00 1,155.00 2,310.00 II 9 1 1,255.00 1,255.00 1,255.00 1,255.00 II* 10 + 1 350.00 350.00 350.00 350.00 3 1 802.00 802.00 802.00 802.00 81 350.00 1,255.00 556.41 $45,068.91
*Mature bull very thin with good head. **For slaughter only - field dressed for pickup.
The above figures are somewhat different than those summarized on the bid summary mailed out immediately following the sale. This was due to a problem which developed later with a North Dakota buyer who was unable to take some of the cows he had successful bids on because of a new North Dakota brucellosis regulation. This forced us to award some of the cows to the next high bidders and hence made the original summary inaccurate on some age classes.
Heifer calves in the bison herd were not vaccinated for brucellosis from 1973 through 1980. The herd had been certified brucellosis free and there was some problem with test "reactors" with the old full strength vaccine. However, several western states have started re quiring ealfhood vaccination for any imported buffalo cows, so the practice was resumed here in 1981. Buyers from these states will not be able to purchase breeding cows from the 1973-80 calf crops here for live transport to their state, even though the herd has been certified bangs free all this time. We plan to eliminate future problems of this nature by indicating on the bid sheet the ages that have been and have not been ealfhood vaccinated.
Although the average successful bid in 1982 was down more than $100 from 1981, the Bison Range sale again brought higher prices than any other public buffalo sale that we know of.
About 50 percent of the animals were bought by people from Montana and the remainder went to buyers from 7 other states. As shown below, 63 percent of the buffalo were purchased for slaughter and 37 percent for breeding purposes.
Destination and Purpose of Buffalo Sold in 1982
Buyer Location No. Sold For Slaughter Breeding Stock
Montana 41 36 5 North Dakota 15 15 Idaho 7 7 Colorado 6 6 Washington 6 3 3 Oregon 2 2 California 2 2 Wyoming 2 1 1 Total 81 51 30 23
14. Scientific Collections
Animals and/or parts donated to public institutions for research or edu cational purposes during the year were:
Animal or Part Donated' Purpose Donated to
Yearling female Research on stone University of Montana buffalo tool butchering Anthropology Dept.
Two buffalo Sarcocystis research Dr. J.B. Dubey, Montana calves State University
Buffalo skull Educational Southern Illinois (bull) University
Buffalo Skull Eastern New Mexico (cow) University Elk skull (bull) Bighorn Sheep skull (ram)
Buffalo skull Pace University - (bull) New York Bighorn skull (ram)
Bighorn skull Jack Hogg, Montana Coop, (ram) Wildlife Research Unit
Mule deer (1 yrlg, Field necropsy Bart O'Gara, Montana buck, 1 mature (wildlife classes) Coop. Wildlife Research buck, 1 mature Unit doe)
• Disease Prevention and Control
There were no indications of disease problems among the several species of big game. Disease control measures for buffalo are discussed in Sec tion G-10.
H. PUBLIC USE
1. General
The refuge public use program shifted gears this year with completion of the new visitor center. In addition, a new general refuge leaflet and auto tour leaflet were produced, a new sign plan was drafted and implemented, and an AM radio visitor information station was installed. 24
The refuge hosted 95,600 visitors during 1982. This represents a 4.2 percent increase from last year's total of 92,000, and a 10.2 percent increase since 1980 (86,000). These figures reflect an increase in tourism statewide.
Public relations activities; answering public inquiries, etc., remained at about the same level as 1981. We did experience a slight increase in news releases and personal appearances as a result of opening the new visitor center. Two television programs were produced at the Bison Range this year: a feature news story on roundup by KSL-TV of Salt Lake City, Utah; and a one-hour eduactional program about the bison, produced by the British Broadcasting Association for Educational Television.
2. Outdoor Classrooms - Students
A total of 10,800 activity hours of environmental education were recorded in 1982. Of this, approximately 9,500 were for student activities asso ciated with field trips to the refuge. The refpge is used frequently by local area schools during spring, and at our annual bison roundup in October.
Under the direction of Beth Hogg (Education Technician, GS-5, temporary), an environmental education day camp was conducted during July. Two week long sessions were held, one for K through third grade, and a second for fourth through sixth grade. Several local area school teachers and par ents volunteered to assist and the program was very popular with enrollees, and their parents.
Enrollees in the Environ mental Education Day Camp explore nature's workings in a classroom without walls.
W. Berg, July, 1982
At this time we plan to offer the camp again during the summer of 1983, and possibly increase the number of sessions if demand warrants, and volunteer help is available.
3. Outdoor Classrooms - Teachers
The refuge environmental education program continues to expand. Beth has been involved in coordinating teachers' workshops and field trip activities, and in maintaining our environmental education lesson plan library. Total activity hours tallied for teachers in 1982 were 1,300. 25
One unit of college credit, through the University of Montana, was avail able to the 80 teachers enrolled this year in our spring workshop. The program resulted in 640 teacher activity hours. Through the workshopi teachers learn about assistance and facilities available at the refuge for environmental education purposes. The program has been a success in terms of increasing the quality and quantity of field trip activities. I A contract, which resulted in the production of a booklet of environmen tal education lesson plans geared to the refuge and lower Flathead Val ley, was finalized this year. The booklets were distributed to local area schools, placed in our EE Library, and handed out at the Teachers' Workshop. Feedback from local area teachers using the booklet has been positive. The booklet contains lesson plans which approach environmen tal education through a variety of subject areas and at different grade levels. The booklet makes it easy for teachers who don't have a back ground in EE to get involved.
During 1980, a campsite for use by school groups was built by our YCC crew. This year, an environmental education learning center was added to compliment the camping area. Our old office building was converted and now contains a classroom, audio-visual and laboratory equipment, study skins and skulls, a herbarium, and reference materials. The fa cility was used only moderately during 1982, but use is expected to grow. Several local area school teachers volunteered their time and effort to this project.
4. Interpretive Foot Trails
Three interpretive foot trails are available to visitors at the Bison . Range. The Mission Creek Wildlife Management Trail traverses a small wetland area and riparian zone adjacent to our picnic area, and is open year around. Small trail signs are used to interpret management prac tices such as the use of artificial nest boxes and structures, and nat ural features. The trail also provides access to Mission Creek for fish ing. Approximately 3,000 activity hours of environmental education and 2,500 activity hours of interpretation were recorded for the trail during 1982.
Two other trails. The Bitterroot Trail and High Point Tr^il, are located along the Red Sleep Mountain Scenic Drive and are interpreted through the self-guided auto tour leaflet.
5. Interpretive Tour Routes
The highlight of a visit to the Bison Range continues to be the 19-mile Red Sleep Mountain Scenic Drive. In addition to providing an opportun ity for wildlife observation, the route traverses the three major habitat types (grassland, coniferous forest, and riparian zone) found on the Range. A new auto tour leaflet and station signs are used to interpret these habitats and other features. A total 40,150 visits, and 83,000 activity hours of interpretation were recorded for use of the route in 1982. 26
6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations
After several years of delay in planning and construction, the new in terpretive visitor center finally became a reality. Director Jantzen was key speaker at the open house ceremony held on June 19th. Other dignitaries speaking were Orville Lewis, Deputy Director of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks and Tom Pablo, Chairman of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council.
Approximately 1,300 people visited the refuge on open house day. A crowd of about 350 attended the ceremonies and 1,000 were served re freshments throughout the day. Ben Hazeltine, retired FWS refuge mana ger, and "C.J." Henry, former Bison Range manager, now retired, were on hand to represent the National Wildlife Refuge Association. Others present included retired FWS refuge manager Homer Bradly; former Bison Range manager Marvin Kaschke, who is now manager at Sheldon-Hart Mountain Antelope Range in Oregon; Area Manager Wally Steucke and Marv Plenert of the Regional Office.
I
Feature exhibit in the new center is a prime Bison Range bull. Taxidermy work was done by Deaton Studios of Newton, Iowa.
B. Hogg, March 1982 27
This 8-year old bull, which weighed about 2,300 pounds and stands nearly 6 feet at the shoulders, creates quite an impres sion when he areets visitors at the in terpretive center entrance.
K. Olson, June 1982 "Raging Bull". One of many large Scanamurals used as a backdrop to other exhibits. Scanamural is a 3M Company process which uses a compu ter controlled sensor to "read" a slide or photograph, The sensor then directs air brush guns over large canvas tarps which are being rolled on a drum. The effect is somewhat like that of an oil painting.
K. Olson, June 1982
Design Craftsman, Inc., of Midland, Mich igan, was awarded the $75,000 contract for fabricating and installing most of the exhibit work. A crew member aligns one of the many large display murals.
K. Olson, March, 1982 Visitors in the new interpretive center enjoy a slide-tape program which explains management practices at the refuge/ Top ographic map in foreground depicts major habitat types, delineates range units, and indicates where the bison herds are located.
K. Olson, June 1982
Total cost for the project including the building, parking lot, roads, exhibits, and five miles of new display pasture fence was approximately $750,000. The new center features a full body mount of a prime Bison Range bull buffalo. Other exhibits interpret the historical range and numbers of bison, demise of the species, the role the refuge played in helping the bison make a comeback, and finally, biological aspects and the management program. Approximately 42,000 visitors made use of the new center and 14,000 activity hours of interpretation were recorded the first season of operation.
7. Other Interpretive Programs
Through the use of our portable dissolve slide-tape unit, and other audio visual equipment, interpretive programs were presented at various civic group and service club meetings, senior citizen's organizations, and special interest groups throughout the year. The old hide house was used as a theatre again this year to provide roundup visitors with a 15-minute slide program about the refuge and the annual roundup. In addition to exhibits and displays in the interpretive center, an audio visual program was shown on a regular basis during the summer season, and to participants in the annual saddle club ride. A total of 6,000 activity hours were recorded for these activities.
9. Fishing
The Jocko River, a productive trout fishery, flows through the south end of the Bison Range. The refuge maintains a fishing access point on Mon tana State Highway 200. In addition, portions of Mission Creek which flow 29
through the north end of the refuge were opened to fishing this year. While Mission Creek received little use, the Jocko River continued re ceiving steady use by local area fishermen. A total of approximately 1,500 activity hours were reported in 1982.
Wildlife Observation
Wildlife observation along the Buffalo Prairie Drive, a 3-mile non- interpreted loop road, and around the day use area accounted for the 25,000 activity hours recorded. Buffalo, elk, mule and white-tailed deer, and pronghorn antelope can often be observed by visitors in these areas.
This year, construction began on a new loop off the Buffalo Prairie Drive, where 200 acres had previously been fenced out for a mini tour. This new road will allow us to rotate our display pasture herd and bet ter utilize grasslands, while increasing opportunity for viewing wildlife.
A wall exhibit and leaflet box are used to convey visitor information about where and how to observe wildlife on the Bison Range, Ninepipe and Pablo refuges. K. Olson, June, 1982 Other Wildlife-Oriented Recreation
Amateur wildlife photography along the self—guided auto tours continues to be a popular recreational pursuit. Our picnic area is heavily used in conjunction with wildlife-oriented activities. Attendance at the annual Saddle Club Ride was approximately 225 this year. Aoproximately 77,000 activity hours of use were recorded in 1982 for these activities.
Attendance at the annual bison roundup was .low this year. The number of visitors was approximately 2,300 as compared to 5,000 in 1981. Crowding at the corral facilities has become a problem and as a result, no effort was made to publish the event in advance. Cold, rainy weather may have 30
been a contributing factor as well. At any rate, we believe that 2,500 to 3,000 visitors during roundup is about the limit for a safe, uncon- gested and enjoyable visitor experience.
Spectators view action in cutting pens at Roundup-82. Crowd size was manageable this year and everyone benefited from re- . duced congestion.
E. Merritt, October, 1982
14. Picnicking
Based on a public use survey conducted during the summer of 1980, we estimate that 88 percent of public use in our picnic area is wildlife oriented. For the most part, picnicking is incidental to wildlife- oriented recreational pursuits. • The remaining 12 percent, non-wildlife oriented picnicking, resulted in approximately 10,000 activity hours of use. This use occurs mostly in early spring by local area residents.
17. Law Enforcement
No. No. Violation Cases (81) Cases (82)/Disposition
Trespass 8 Fined $25 1 Pending 3 Unauthorized use of motorcycle on tour rt. Fined $25 5 Unauthorized trailer towing on tour rt. Fined $50 2 Fine $25 1 (supended) „ Dismissed 1 Driving wrong way on one-way tour route 11 Pending 1 Theft of elk antlers Fine $100 2 (both suspended) 31
No. No. Violation Cases (81) Cases (82)/Disposition
Operating motor vehicle without license plates. 1 Fined $25 1 Camping in closed area 2 Dismissed 2 Unauthorized off-road 1 Fined $100 1 vehicle use (jailed for failure • to pay) Speeding 1 Fined $25 1
Total 34 21
The total number of cases dropped by nearly one-third from 1981, while visitation increased. There was a significant reduction in traffic vi olations such as trailer towing and going the wrong way on our one-way tour route. This reduction may be a result of'our new sign system which uses standard traffic signs and symbols. Motorcycles continue to be a minor problem. This is probably a reflection of increased motorcycle use by tourists in our area.
i-:. : Red Sleep MountainDrive Allow 2 Hours Open 8 AM7 PM 4 No Trailors * Buffalo PrairieDrive Allow 20 Mlnutaa Open 8 AM-Dark Trailers Permitted B Q (S S
New refuge signs installed in 1982 are clear, concise, and use standard rec Mam reation and traffic symbols. The re sult has been fewer citations issued,
E. Merritt, May 1982
Some sign problems seem insurmount able. We plan to try flexible fiber glass sign posts on the new mini- tour in 1983. 32
18. Cooperating Associations
On February 7, 1979, the Bison Range entered into a cooperative agreement with the Glacier Natural History Association. Due to delays in comple tion of the new interpretive center, the terms of that agreement, oper- atina a sales outlet, were not implemented until April of 1982.
Our first season of operation, mid-May through Mid-September, resulted in the sale of approximately $4,000 in interpretive publications and wild life prints. Two seasonal receptionists in the interpretive center han dled sales as an incidental duty. Cash and inventory records and other associated paperwork were maintained by ORP Merritt. Staff time involve ment was minimal, averaging not more than 12 hours per month.
19. Concessions
The Moiese Mercantile, a small gas station-grocery store-post office com plex, is located within the refuge boundary, just outside our main entrance and is operated under a concession contract. The "mere" is heavily pat ronized by refuge visitors during the summer jnonths for picnic supplies, film, gasoline, etc., and is used by local area residents throughout the year. The post office is convenient for refuge use and the store provides a needed visitor service. Without the concession, the nearest these ser vices would be available is in Charlo which is a 16 mile round trip drive.
I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES
1. New Construction
Construction was begun on the west loop of the Buffalo Prairie Drive.' Initial construction activities included layout and sod removal for the 12-foot wide roadway. A scraper was borrowed from C.M. Russell NWR for removal of sod for the one-way road. Sod was disposed of by building two low-head dams in the loop road area. These should hold water temp orarily in spring and add to habitat diversity along the tour. When fin ished, the road will be surfaced with 6 inches of crushed rock topped with 2 inches of gravel, anticipated.
Road work on our new mini-tour route was accomplished in part through the use of a John Deere scrapper borrowed from C. M. Russell Refuge.
H. Null, July, 1982 33
Two bookcases and two sets of cabinets were built force account for the new refuge office. A slide projector stand for the audio-visual room in the visitor center was also constructed force account.
Rehabilitation
Via an ;intra-agency agreement between the BIA and FWS, all overhead elec tric lines into the Bison Range headquarters area were replaced with un derground services at a cost of $6,771. Elimination of overhead wires in the shop-residence area, and one mile of overhead main line through headquarters and the picnic area will improve the view greatly.
The new visitor center access road was swept free of loose chips and ditched along the uphill side. Ditching was necessary to prevent water from running across the asphalt, freezing, and causing hazardous driving conditions. There was also an erosion problem on the downhill side of the roadway. Water running across the road was washing away the shoulder. This road was poorly designed and constructed under BLHP contract.
Quarters 63 (Assistant Manager's residence) was reshingled in September. The exteriors of Quarters 63 and 64 were repainted.
A wood-burning furnace was installed in the basement of Quarters 62 (Man ager's residence). The furnace was connected to the duct work of the existing oil furnace. Wood now serves as the primary heat source in the building, with the oil furnace serving as a back-up heat source. Instal lation was done by Sunshine Heating and Air Conditioning of Ronan, at a cost of $1,650, including furnace and labor.
Major Maintenance
Approximately 150 feet of Mission Creek near the picnic area was rip- rapped with 100 yards of rock. The creek was eroding the west bank and threatening to take out our fence and part of the picnic area.
The refuge TD-9 required a valve job and engine repair in April.
Three gates were replaced at the bison corrals and corner posts and braces were replaced in the contour fence between Upper and Lower West Ranges below Tower 3.
Approximately 1/2 mile of woven wire fence was removed from around the south side of the bison exhibition pasture near the old headquarters.
About 1/2 of the bison corrals were repainted prior to roundup.
Ten pit toilets, which included 8 in the picnic area and 2 near the bison corrals were lined inside with plywood and painted.
The 19-mile auto tour route was bladed three times during the tourist season. The Range boundary road was bladed once during the summer.
Equipment Utilization and Replacement
C>ne of our best horses had to be replaced in April. The horse, which 34
was bought in 1981 at a cost of $2,000, was kicked by another horse and a front leg was broken. The Injured horse was destroyed and a replace ment, a 7-year old gelding, was purchased for $1,200.
Communications Systems
The base radio system was moved to the new office in January. Due to the increase in elevation from the old location, several previoulsy "dead" spots on the Range can now be reached.
Two new Motorola MX 330 portable radios were purchased at a cost of $1,553.80 each.
A 10-watt AM radio transmitter was installed in the new office. The transmitter, which will operate at 1610 KHZ, will be used to broadcast prerecorded messages to refuge visitors. Visitors will be advised, via signing near the Range entrance, to tune their automobile radios to the assigned frequency. We plan to use the system in conjunction with our auto tour routes during the summer and to -broadcast seasonal messages of interest during other times of the year.
Energy Conservation
A wood-burning furnace was installed in Quarters 62. See Section 1-2 for details.
A free standing wood stove was also used as the primary heat source in the office portion of the new visitor center building. Approximately 3 cords of wood and only 300 gallons of fuel oil were burned in the first winter's operation.
J. OTHER ITEMS
Cooperative Programs
Ecoloaical monitoring programs in which National Bison Range personnel were involved included:
Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count Colonial Nesting Bird Survey Mid-winter Waterfowl Survey Winter Eagle Survey Mourning Dove Coo Count Flathead Valley Cooperative Goose' Management Pro-gram North and South Dakota Duck Breeding Pair Survey
Items of Interest
Personnel Participation
Activities of staff members not listed elsewhere in the report were as follows: 35
Jon Malcolm
Was active in the Charlo Lions Club and served as 2nd vice-president.
Attended monthly meetings and served as vice-chairman of the Lake County Committee for Rural Development.
Was active in the Montana Chapter of the Wildlife Society and served as president-elect. Presented a paper on "Waterfowl Mortality from Power Line Strikes and Botulism at Broadview Marsh" at the 1982 Ann ual Meeting.
Provided advice and counsel through Montana DNR to the Broadview Marsh Mitigation Committee. Published an article titled "Bird Collisions with a Power Transmission Line and Their Relation to Botulism at a Montana Wetland" in The Wildlife Society Bulletin. Received a $1,000 Special Achievement Award for his work on the Broadview problem.
Attended the Annual Banquet of the Ninepipe Chapter of Ducks Unlimited.
Served as chairman of the Annual Meeting of the Flathead Valley Cooper ative Canada Goose Committee.
Was a member of the National Buffalo Association and the American Buffalo Association. Presented a talk on the National Bison Range management at the Annual Meeting of the National Buffalo Association in September at Cody, Wyoming.
Hugh Null
Was active in the Charlo Lions Club and was elected 3rd vice-president.
Participated in the 1982 Duck Breeding Pair Survey in the Dakotas.
Ernest Kraft
Served on the Board of Directors of the Ronan Community Hospital.
Babe May
Attended the Annual Banquet of the Ninepipes Chapter of Ducks Unlimited.
Bill Berg
Was active in Charlo Lions Club, and served as an instruc+-or for the Lions sponsored Hunter Safety Training Program. Was active in the Montana Chapter of the Wildlife Society.
Other Items
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation announced that they would sell the buffalo from their 38-iiead herd at Valley Creek south of the Bison Range. Most of the animals were obtained "IV-. lOrvil 36
from Theodore Roosevelt National Park in recent years, but 5 head were donated from the Bison Range in 1981. Although construction of cor rals and most of the fence had been completed in 1981, and the opera tion was just getting off the ground, the Tribes decided they couldn't stand the expense of holding it together.
One of the potential routes for a twin, 500-KV power transmission line across Western Montana (to carry Colstrip power to the West Cost) fol lows an existing 165-KV line which crosses the northeast corner of the Bison Range for a distance of about 2 miles. FWS went on record as opposing placement of the new line on the Bison Range due to adverse visual impacts to visitors and incompatibility with National Wildlife Refuge purposes. Several public hearings were held throughout the year to review this and other potential routes. We were advised late in the year by Montana Department of Natural Resources contacts that the Jocko Route which crosses the Bison Range, had been dropped from considera tion in favor of a route that passes south of Missoula. However, noth ing official had been reported at year's end.
In September, we made the visitor center AV ro6m available to the Mon tana Department of Highways for a public hearing on a project to re build about 1 mile of State Highway 212 from the Moiese store south to the county line. The project is badly needed and received local support. Refuge personnel made a field review of the project's minor impacts on wetland areas, which will be unavoidable. Recommendations on mitigating these impacts were made to the Billings Environment Field Station. As far as we know, the project is set for construction in 1983.
Credits
Jon Malcolm - Sections A; D; E 1-5, 7-8; F 1-9, 11; G; J 2-3; K; Editing
Hugh Null - Sections B; E 6; F 10; I; J 1
Ed Merritt - Section H
Susan McCollum - Typing and Assembly
K. FEEDBACK
Suggested Change in Meeting Attendance Policy
The professional personnel at this station believe the current travel policy concerning attendance at meetings should be changed. We have heard much of late about professionalism, better biology and greater coordination and interaction with the states. However, the FWS policy on attendance is at odds with the otherwise encouraging words we hear and read. For most employees in the wildlife profession. The Wildlife Society, and the State Chapters in particular, is a major arena for professional involvement, dissemination of biological informatiori on the state-of-the-art and making acquaintance with cohorts with other agencies and organizations. 37
Most State Chapters have an annual meeting which is the event of the year for professional wildlifera. At the meetings I have been to over the past several years, policies of state agencies and federal agencies other than FWS have allowed their personnel to attend on agency time and at agency expense i(without the requirements that they be an officer, or be on the program and obtain approval from Washington). If the FWS is really inter ested in promoting professionalism, better biology and improved relations with the states among its ranks, then it should allow professional employees to attend one meeting annually as approved by Project Leaders within the constraints of their operating budgets. I cannot blame my employees or other FWS employees in the state for choosing not to attend these meetings at their own expense when employees of other agencies get their expenses paid. THE NATIONAL BISON RANGE Range condition, as governed by Located in western Montana, the Range climate and use, determines the number of protects one of the most important of the animals the area can support. The herds remaining herds of American bison or vary in size from year to year, but generally buffalo. Within these lands of the beautiful contain from 300 to 400 bison, 75 to 100 Flathead Valley, in the "Land of the Shining elk, 100 to 200 mule deer, 100 to 200 Mountains," from 300 to 500 of the great whitetails, 40 to 100 bighorn sheep, and 50 shaggy animals roam over nearly 19,000 to 100 pronghorns. Badgers, or their acres of grassland and park-like patches of diggings, may be seen, and there are other timber. fur animals such as the mink, beaver, This is an area of steep hills and narrow muskrat, and weasel. Bobcats and coyotes canyons at the southern end of the Flathead are present in limited numbers and black Valley, which lies in the shadows of the bears occasionally use the area. The most majestic Mission Range, northwest of conspicuous rodents are the yellowbellied Missoula in western Montana. Though marmot, the Columbian ground squirrel, snow piles into huge drifts in nearby hills, and the mountain cottontail. the Bison Range is so located that it is In order to keep the herds in balance scantily covered in winter. Even in the worst weather, bison are ruggedly self- with their food supply, a number of each species, approximately equal to the annual sufficient, and can find forage by rooting increase, must be removed each year. through the snow. Besides the bison, the Range holds Surplus buffalo are removed in October. herds of whitetail and mule deer, elk, All are sold alive for exhibition, bighorn sheep, and pronghorns. There are propagation, or meat. The sale of surplus also a few Rocky Mountain goats. range products makes the Bison Range partially self-supporting. A portion of the
"OA give me a home where the buffalo roam...
One of these small herds was the PLANT COMMUNITIES outgrowth of a hunting expedition by The Range possesses several distinct Indians. In 1873 a party of Pend d' Oreille plant-cover types, but is primarily a Indians went from the Flathead Valley to grassland area composed largely of the plains east of the Rockies for their meat Palouse Prairie vegetation, with bluebunch supply. One of them, Walking Coyote, wheatgrass, rough fescue, and Idaho brought back four young bison calves. fescue as principal species. The upper hills Descendants of these animals comprised sustain small park-like stands of Douglas- the famous Pablo-Allard herd, part of fir and western yellow pine. Creek bottoms which eventually became the Conrad herd are a veritable jungle of alders, junipers, at Kalispell, Montana. aspens, birch, cottonwoods, thorn apples, and willows. Bighorn Sheep
NEAR EXTINCTION RECOVERY AFTER... These bottom lands are favored by revenue is shared with Sanders and Lake American bison originally ranged from This Range, one of the oldest big-game whitetail deer, while mule deer frequent the counties in which the Range is located Great Slave Lake in Canada to Mexico, and areas in the country, was established May higher slopes and ridges. After the Range was established as a from Nevada and Oregon to Tennessee and 23, 1908. The action came as an outgrowth Plants at higher altitudes include the big-game area, management practices so Pennsylvania. Great herds containing of public sentiment — largely inspired by bitterroot, which is Montana's state flower, increased its value for other kinds of perhaps 50 million animals wandered over efforts of the American Bison Society, then paintbrush, clarkia, and several wildlife that an Executive Order in 1912 the prairies in the early ISOO's. The40-year under the leadership of the famed penstemons. Patches of balsamroot and established it also as a Federal bird refuge. period, ending around 1880, marked a naturalist Dr. William T. Hornaday. lupine brighten the hills in season, and Ring-necked pheasants and qray slaughter of big game such as the world President Theodore Roosevelt obtained larkspur, yellowbells, and asters bloom on partridges are numerous, while lesser had never seen. Millions of these great appropriations to acquire and fence an nature's schedule. Clematis drapes over numbers of blue and ruffed grouse are beasts were shot, and stripped of their area for the protection and preservation of some of the many miles of big-game fences present. In fall and winter, wild ducks hides. Sometimes only the tongues were the vanishing American buffalo. The on the area. congregate on Mission Creek which flows taken. American Bison Society raised more than May and June are the best months to see through the northern part of the range Carcasses were left to rot in the prairie $10,000 by popular subscription to buy 34 the display of wild flowers. Shrubs of the Many songbirds nest or migrate through sun. By 1883 bison were practically gone, bison from the Conrad estate. These Range include currant, Juneberry or the area. A publication on birds is available and by 1900 only 20 wild bison were animals, with seven donated bison — two serviceberry, chokecherry, mockorange, at headquarters. known to exist. Fortunately, there were a from Montana, two from Texas, and three and wild rose, whose seed pods, or hips, are The National Bison Range also serves few privately owned throughout the from New Hampshire — started the Bison relished by some varieties of wildlife. as an outdoor laboratory for research in the country — pitiful remnants of the once Range herd. The first bison were released fields of wildlife and range management, majestic herds. From these scattered bands on the Range on October 17, 1909. Land and as a "classroom without walls" for the Bison Range herd was started. now in the Range was purchased from the teachers and students of all ages and grade Flathead Indians. levels.
"Where the deer and the antelope play..."
Bison illustrations by Ernie Kraft NATIONAL BISON RANGE
VISITOR CENTER
RED SLEEP MT. DRIVE
BUFFALO PRAIRIE DRIVE
WHERE TO OBSERVE WILDLIFE A good place to begin your tour of the Bison Range is the visitor center. Here you find interpretive exhibits and information about the Range designed to make your visit more enjoyable.
HUNTING AND HABITAT The wasteful killing of bison that led to the near extinction of this magnificent LOCATION animal dramatized a need to regulate The National Bison Range is located 37 hunting of large animals such as elk, miles north of Missoula, Montana off antelope, and deer. This eventually led to Highway 93. Headquarters can be reached the establishment of modern game from the south via Highway 200 by turning regulations, enforced throughout the off onto Montana Highway 212, a good country today, which closely regulate oiled road, and driving north to the main Visitor Center harvest of big game permitting ample entrance at Moiese. numbers to remain and perpetuate their To survive, wildlife need adequate Headquarters may be reached from the The highlight of a visit to the Range is kind. water, food, and cover. National Wildlife north by leaving Highway 93 at a point 5 the two hour Red Sleep Mountain self- The most serious problem confronting Refuges such as the National Bison Range miles south of Ronan. From this junction, guided drive. A short tour, the Buffalo wildlife today is a result of land use help meet these needs for numerous follow Montana Highway 212, a good Prairie Drive, is also available for those changes which have a detrimental effect on wildlife helping assure their survival in the blacktop road, for a distance of 14 miles to with less time. Both tours begin and end at habitat or areas occupied by wildlife. years ahead. the Range entrance. the visitor center. It is recommended that you check with refuge personnel regarding ADMINISTRATION hours of operation. The National Bison Range is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife OTHER PUBLIC USES Service as a part of the National Wildlife Picnic sites and a nature trail are Refuge System. Further information can be available in the Day Use Area. Public obtained from the Range Manager, fishing is permitted along Mission Creek as National Bison Range, Moiese, Montana posted, and on the Jocko River where it 59824. Telephone: 406-644-2211. flows through the south edge of the Range. The Jocko River fishing access is located 3 miles (5 km.) west of Ravalli on State Highway 200. Compliance with all U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE applicable state regulations is required. D*par1m«nt of Intador Special tours are provided for organized groups if arrangements are i.r.v:1-,,, made in advance. Otherwise, visitors are restricted from the open range. This is a precaution for the safety of visitors, and to minimize the adverse impacts of overuse. Bull Elk RF-861540-1 March, 1M2
QPO: 1982 -577 572