Elk in Paradise

ROLE: Researcher and Author

TIMEFRAME: 2019-2020

DELIVERABLE: ELK IN PARADISE - Conserving Migratory Wildlife and Working Lands in Montana’s Paradise Valley

The project examined the impacts to landowners of coexisting with growing numbers of elk and other wildlife in the Paradise Valley of Montana. Project goals were threefold: 1) assess landowner attitudes and behaviors toward wildlife, and specifically elk, on their land, 2) gather landowner insights into tools needed to promote the continued economic viability of private working lands; and 3) develop a needs assessment and specific set of recommendations that benefit working lands and wildlife through increased or improved cooperation, research, policy, innovation, and incentives.

Data were gathered through a survey of landowners engaged in ranching and agriculture, in-person discussions with many of the targeted landowners and, once preliminary survey data were tabulated, discussions with participating landowners and the larger Paradise Valley community at meetings and a landowner forum.

With a goal of developing a toolkit of potential solutions to better address these issues in the future, the report presents a set of 13 recommendations developed around the three central themes of 1) landowner coordination and outreach, 2) financial incentives, and 3) research and technical assistance. The findings and recommendations have strong correlations with similar work in other regions of the western United States where wildlife and ranching coexist.

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