Elk crossing would be worth trying

The band of elk that calls the East Valley home is a common sight as it wanders the area of Montana 206, Middle Road and Columbia Falls Stage Road.

But in their migrations from the Swan Range to the Flathead River, the elk cross and re-cross those roads and other routes that are experiencing heavier traffic from nearby development.

How do you help the East Valley's resident elk herd safely navigate the highways?

Jay and Sandy Whitney figure a wildlife crossing - essentially a large culvert under the highway - might limit the opportunities for the elk to have unpleasant encounters with motorists.

The Whitneys own land on both sides of Montana 206 north of Fairview Crossroad where a highway shoulder-widening project is planned.

Their idea, backed by conservation groups and the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, is to install the elk underpass while highway construction is under way.

But the project needs some money.

It would cost $165,000 for the underpass plus several miles of fencing to funnel the elk toward the culvert crossing.

The Whitneys are pitching in $21,000 that the state Department of Transportation will pay them for the land used to widen the highway. Some federal funding will provide $116,400 while other donations so far have cut the funding gap to less than $10,000.

But that money needs to be raised by Friday so the Transportation Department can incorporate the elk underpass into road planning.

We applaud the Whitneys for their commitment to the elk and hope this worthwhile project finds the necessary funds in the short time remaining.

While vehicles and elk don't often collide on the highway, when they do, the results are chilling. Witness the damage a bull elk did to a small car (injuring two people inside) earlier this month only a mile from the proposed crossing.

And increasing residential development in the East Valley is likely to put more vehicles on the roads and therefore put more elk in harm's way.

Contributions can be sent to the Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 7039, Missoula MT 59807 and should include a notation that they are to be used for the wildlife underpass on Montana Secondary 206.