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Show Centennial Valley Corridor H. E. Castillo-Rosado, M. L. Castillo, S. O'Neill A. Keller, T. Haunga University of Utah INTRODUCTION METHODS CONCLUSION Due to their extensive movements, anthropocentric habitat fragmentation is one of the greatest threats to large carnivores3. Corridors may mitigate the adverse effects of habitat fragmentation by maintaining connectivity between populations 2. Centennial Valley, Montana is a critical migration route for wildlife between Yellowstone National Park and the Northern Rockies, which is facing threats of habitat fragmentation and degradation due to poorly planned development. We used camera traps to monitor the presence, distribution, abundance, and behavior of large carnivores throughout the valley1. We positioned four, motion-activated cameras in different locations near the Taft-Nicholson Center from October to November, 2016. We placed some cameras in densely forested areas at higher elevations, some in open areas, and others near riparian habitats. Next, we retrieved our cameras and analyzed the photos for large carnivore presence. RESULTS The objective of our study was to prove large carnivore presence within the corridor in order to demand protection for the forest as well as these animals. We are confident that even with our small sample size, both predator and prey type animals are present within the corridor. We believe that we would be able to capture larger predators if we had more cameras spread throughout the corridor for a longer period of time. We feel that by continuing this research, we will be able to provide significant proof to support existing research. We are hoping to expand our collaboration and funding in order to increase the number of cameras, broaden areas of study, and to draw in large predators through carcass baiting. REFERENCES 1Burton, A. Cole et al., Journal of Applied Ecology (2015): 675-85. doi:10.1111/1365-2664.12432. 52, no. 3 2Dixon, Jeremy D., et al, "Effectiveness of a Regional Corridor in Connecting Two Florida Black Bear Populations." Conservation Biology 20, no. 1: 155-162. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost 3Hostetler, Jeffrey A., et al. Biological Conservation 142, no. 11 (November 2009): 2456-2463. Academic Search Premier, Centennial Valley Corridor Odocoileus hemionus Alces alces ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Stephen Goldsmith, Ryan Alger, John Taft, Bill West, Bill Stay, Shana Dunkley, Jenn Watt, Erin Halcomb, Redrocks Wildlife Refuge, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Ivory Homes Trail Cam Locations Vulpes vulpes Mephitis mephitis |
