Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge: Montana: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

NEWS RELEASE

From: Jeff King, Project Leader National Bison Range Complex: 406-644-2211, ext. 204; or Lynn Verlanic, Acting Refuge Manager Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge: 406-858-2286.

For Immediate Release (see below):

National Bison Range Complex to hold an open house to allow comments on the McGregor Meadows Waterfowl Production Area, Stream and Wetland Restoration Project draft Environmental Assessment

On June 7, 2012 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will hold a meeting to hear comments from the public on the draft McGregor Meadows Waterfowl Production Area Stream and Wetland Restoration Project Environment Assessment (EA). The meeting will be held between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. at the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks office in Kalispell, Mt. The public will have an opportunity to offer their comments, which will be collected and presented to the planning team for consideration in the final Environmental Assessment. For directions to this meeting place, please call the refuge headquarters at (406) 858-2286.

The EA may be viewed on-line at www.fws.gov/losttrail. Copies of the document may be obtained at the refuge office at 58355 Bison Range Rd., Moiese, Montana 59824, or you can request copies by calling the refuge office at (406) 644-2211 or emailing them at bisonrange@fws.gov.

If you cannot attend this open house, you may still provide written comments on this document by letter, fax, or email. All comments must be emailed or postmarked by June 17, 2012 to be considered.

Email: bisonrange@fws.gov (8 MB PDF)

Postal Mail: Jeff King, Project Leader, National Bison Range Complex, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 58355 Bison Range Rd., Moiese, Montana 59824

Fax: 406-644-2661 Attn: Jeff King, Project Leader

We look forward to visiting with the public and hearing your thoughts on this planning effort and resulting draft document.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov. Connect with the Service’s Mountain-Prairie Region via our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/USFWSMountainPrairie, follow our tweets at http://twitter.com/USFWSMtnPrairie, download photos from our Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/51986662@N05, and watch our YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/usfws.

View the Draft Environmental Assessment (8 MB PDF)

	Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) (7,885 acres) is located in Flathead County 40 miles west of Kalispell, approximately a one-hour drive on gravel and paved roads. Lost Trail NWR was acquired in August, 1999 and is the 519th Refuge in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Prior to acquisition, Refuge lands were privately owned and managed as the cattle and horse ranch known as Lost Trail Ranch. The ranch's long and diverse history of cattle ranching dates back to the late 1800's. The habitat diversity of the Refuge supports a wide variety of wildlife species. At least 14 species of migratory and breeding waterfowl utilize wetland areas. These include mallard, gadwall, cinnamon teal, green-winged teal, lesser scaup, wood duck, red-head, common goldeneye, and Canada geese. Various species of marsh and shorebirds are present during the summer months. These include grebes, herons, gulls, killdeer, sandhill cranes, dowitchers, sandpipers, common snipe, bitterns, and black terns.
Upland gamebird species include spruce grouse, blue grouse and ruffed grouse. The Refuge lies within the historic range of the Columbian sharp-tailed grouse. Raptor species such as northern harriers, red-tailed hawks, Swainson's hawks, American kestrels, Great Gray owls, and Great-horned owls are present. Resident mammal species include white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, moose, black bear, and mountain lions. Furbearers include fisher, pine martin, lynx, wolverine, and bobcat. Muskrat, badger, and Columbian ground squirrels are also present on the Refuge. The threatened grizzly bear and the gray wof are known to inhabit the area.
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Contact Us: Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge 6295 Pleasant Valley Road, Marion Montana 59925 Voice: (406) 858-2286 Fax: (406) 858-2218

Last updated: June 1, 2012

National Bison Range Wildlife Refuge Complex

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