Living with Wildlife

[emilieboyles]

It is illegal to feed deer, elk, moose, antelope, bear, and other similar species in Montana. The 2009 legislature added undulates as well as a few other animals to the list that previously included bears.

The law sets a hefty fine as well as other consequences. It also includes attracting some types of birds. Home gardens and some commercial activity involving livestock that naturally attract those animals are excluded. The reasoning, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife, and parks is both for the protection of humans as well as to protect the various species.

[mtn_viking]

You're right about Bozeman having a different climate than Great Falls. Bozeman is different than most other "Montana Metro" areas because of its elevation. Most of the other cities and towns east of the divide have a climate more similar to Great Falls.

Bozeman also gets quite a bit more snow than Kalispell and even Whitefish.

[ElkHunter]

One of the problems we have down here is: You comply by not feeding. But the neighbor likes to see the little deer. So he puts out a salt block behind the shed to attract the deer. Of course, the wolves, bears follow the deer into camp. So now you have a problem along with everybody else in town.

[emilieboyles]

the salt lick is illegal too....any intentional "attactants" according to FWP.

[Reziac]

I remember hearing about a guy who got his car totaled by -- I think it was elk -- right in his own driveway. They kicked and banged it into scrap metal. As the story came out, he'd been feeding 'em and then stopped, and they apparently disapproved.

"Once you pay the danegeld, you never get rid of the Dane" doesn't apply just to extortionists and tax collectors!

[Fiddlehead]

I am researching wildlife, as a safety issue on another thread (bears). However, I have to say the desire to live surrounded by wildlife essentially means you are in THEIR habitat. Sure, some generalist species (raccoons, deer, crows, jays, house sparrows) thrive around people, but most are negatively impacted. Folks want to live in the midst of wildlife and then expect wildlife officers to solve their bear problems are the same as the folks building custom homes in the woods, and expect it to be rescued in a forest fire. Why not live in town and take excursions to seem the wildlife. I cannot imagine anywhere in NW Montana is far from wildlife viewing areas, but the notion of plunking yourself in the midst of wildlife strikes me as a bit selfish. I don't think you intended that, just clarifying the trade offs and consequences here.