Montana State University--Bozeman

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In this report, the Center for Large Landscape

Conservation (CLLC), Future West, the

Sonoran Institute, and Montana State

University’s Western Transportation

Institute (WTI) investigated the potential impacts

of future housing development on traffic to

determine where increased traffic from housing

development will impact habitat connectivity

for large carnivores. The focus of this study was

Flathead and Lincoln counties in northwestern

Montana. The main goal was to

maintain wildlife habitat connectivity

across transportation corridors

despite the likelihood of future traffic

increases. This effort was unique in

that it projects development into the

future and identifies potential problem

sites before the impacts arrive. With

foresight and collaborative efforts, the

impacts of future development can be

mitigated to maintain habitat connectivity within

the study area.

US Transportation Collection