Creature feature
Jay and Sandy Whitney explain, Friday, the necessity of a wildlife crossing culvert to be built underneath Montana 206, right, about 2 miles north of U.S. 2. The Whitneys said this highway is a frequent Elk migration route. Garrett Cheen/Daily Inter Lake
Project aims to help elk cross highway
Elk typically aren't a problem in populated areas.
But in their migrations from the Swan Range to the Flathead River, an east valley elk herd is forced to navigate several roads seeing heavier traffic from nearby development.
Conservation groups, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks and area residents think a wildlife crossing could preserve game migration patterns.
But they need to raise $15,000 by the end of November to get the crossing incorporated into a Montana Department of Transportation shoulder-widening project planned for Montana 206 north of Fairview Crossroad.
In effect a large culvert running under the road, the crossing also would include the construction of several miles of fencing to funnel elk and other wildlife toward the underpass.
The project comes with a $165,000 price tag, according to Montana Department of Transportation documents.
And because the elk herd isn't a documented safety issue for motorists, the department wasn't able to use safety funds to pay for the crossing.
They were able, however, to come up with $116,400 from another category of federal-aid funding, which leaves a $48,600 gap to be filled by private contributions.
Jay and Sandy Whitney, the impetus behind the wildlife crossing project, own the land on both sides of Montana 206 where the shoulder widening is set to occur.
They are willing to contribute $21,000 the Department of Transportation is expected to pay them for the land used to widen and slope the shoulder. Another $12,600 already had been donated from other groups.
But time is running short.
"To ensure efficient use of our design resources, we must have a conceptual commitment to obtaining these funds no later than" Nov. 30, 2007, according to Department of Transportation documents.
While it hasn't taken responsibility for raising the money, the Department of Transportation has offered to provide cost estimates, letters of support and other information.
The shoulder-widening project is scheduled to be contracted out in March.
As development further encroaches upon the elk migration patterns, run-ins between the herd and people are expected to increase. And a new housing development is set to go up only a mile north of the Whitney's farm.
The elk herd, estimated at about 65 animals in 2003, has caused problems for a local sod farmer. Hunting as a way to control the herd's population has proven unsuccessful.
Earlier this month, two men barely escaped death when their car struck an elk on Montana 206 near Yeoman Hall Road, less than a mile from the proposed crossing.
To ensure the wildlife crossing doesn't become obsolete as development continues, the Whitneys have or will place their entire 189-acre farm under a conservation easement.
"We're putting our money where our mouth is," said Jay Whitney, referring to the reduced value of his property after the land was made unavailable for development.
"This is what we think is right for this piece of ground, and we hope others will follow our lead," his wife said, adding that their farm may be the only open parcel of land left in the area if development continues.
When they come down from the mountains, the east valley elk herd most often is seen grazing in fields adjacent to Montana 206. But the elk often wander farther west. Crossings on Middle Road or Columbia Falls Stage Road have not been considered.
Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com