WHY RAYNOLDS PASS?
HOW WE DEFINED THE ZONE
Raynolds Pass and the Upper Madison Valley is a Major Wildlife Corridor and Connector. Wildlife corridors are crucial in maintaining the natural movement and migration patterns of animals. These corridors serve as pathways that connect fragmented habitats, allowing species to access essential resources such as food, water, and mates. By enabling unrestricted movement, wildlife corridors play a vital role in preserving biodiversity and supporting healthy ecosystems.
“Corridors are like the hallway connecting your bedroom to your kitchen: you don’t “hang out” in your hallway, but you sure need it to get to the fridge!”
MIGRATORY CORRIDORS
“One of the most important corridors in Madison Valley is over Raynolds Pass. It is a low elevation mountain pass. Elk and pronghorn (and likely mule deer as well) use this route to access vital summer ranges.”
– Julie Cunningham, MT FWP Wildlife Biologist
Collared pronghorn activity is tracked by the Montana FWP in 2022
The Madison Elk herd activity is indicated in teal, separate from other herds in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
WILDLIFE CONNECTIVITY
Wildlife connectivity refers to the ability for animals on land or water to move freely from place to place. Movement allows them to find food, breed, and establish new home territories. They are often narrow zones of habitat which allow animals to move from one habitat patch to another. Lack of connectivity doesn’t just impact the movement of animals, but also disrupts the important ecological processes that people depend on for healthy natural resources and a rich array of life for their livelihoods, such as hunting and fishing.
CONNECTIVITY AREAS
“Papoose Creek is an important connectivity area for species which prefer mountain and forests, like grizzly bears. The mountains narrow together with few barriers to movement and tree cover.” – Julie Cunningham, MT FWP Wildlife Biologist
Papoose Creek area connector between the Madison and Gravelly Ranges.
“It is important to keep manmade barriers such as highways permeable (no fences or obstructions) with natural connectors open and available such as this vital pronghorn connector near Three Dollar Bridge.” – Julie Cunningham, MT FWP Wildlife Biologist
Pronghorn connector in yellow is a critical crossing for pronghorn in the Raynolds Pass geography.