The RVSA strives to maintain and enhance the stewardship of working ranches and public lands in Montana’s Ruby Valley. In partnership, we work to decrease bear-livestock conflict in the Upper Ruby where ranchers graze cattle and grizzly bears roam.
In the winter of 2023, our university partner, Stewart Breck, designed a camera trap study to learn where wildlife is moving, including grizzly bears, on the landscape. A project like this involves coordination among wildlife NGOs, ranchers, cowhands, wildlife agencies, and land managers. Volunteers even gave their time to set up cameras.
This pilot study is a learning opportunity, one that might help us understand how bears react when cattle are introduced to an area.
The pilot project will run through the end of the grazing season. At that time there will be lots of pictures to review and data to sort.
We will have an update on the camera trap pilot project in the winter of 2024.
Read More Here: Sally Schrank from the Greater Yellowstone Coalition tells her story about setting cameras and experiencing bear country.