In the late 1990’s grizzly bears began coming down into the valleys and coming across the ranch boneyards. Soon 20 or more bears were working the bone-yard circuit, according to research by Jamie Jonkel, Region 2 Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Bear Management Specialist.
“The bears had a trap line from boneyard to boneyard on area ranches during calving season,” Jonkel said. “By instituting the carcass collection program in 2003 with the help of Blackfoot Challenge, the possibility of human-bear conflicts was greatly reduced.”
“There are natural death losses on ranches all year long,” said Jim Stone in “Living with Carnivores,” a short documentary. “Weather, disease and the birthing process all take their toll.”
The carcass removal program began 20 years ago thanks to the participation of livestock producers and our partners Seth Wilson, Blackfoot Challenge Executive Director, said by email. He added that the program helps reduce the chances that grizzlies and wolves are attracted to ranches and cause conflict for livestock producers.
In a given year, approximately 50-65 ranches throughout the Blackfoot watershed and in
the Avon, Drummond and Philipsburg areas participate in the program. The area covers carcass pickup from 4 counties and covers several million acres.
Approximately 450-500 livestock carcasses are composted yearly. Rancher confidentiality has always been paramount and no records are kept for individual ranches.
The effort has demonstrated teamwork over the years with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, FWP, Montana Department of Transportation and non government groups. The Fish and Wildlife Service has provided a truck and diesel fuel, FWP has helped fence the composting site and provided technical support, and MDT has been doing the job of composting livestock carcasses at their facility at Clearwater Junction year-round.
The Blackfoot Challenge has helped coordinate these efforts and has covered the costs of hiring local drivers to collect carcasses.
Composting roadkill deer and elk began in the Bitterroot Valley by MDT in the early 2000s. By 2008, MDT began composting deer and elk at its site at Clearwater Junction. The Blackfoot Challenge asked them if they would be willing to try livestock carcasses around that time and they agreed and the rest is history.
“Wolves moving into the Blackfoot area were observed seeking out boneyards and efforts were doubled down to enlist more ranchers in our programs to help reduce livestock losses from wolves by removing carcasses,” Wilson said. “The program has been popular among the livestock producers in the watershed and a good way to reduce and prevent conflicts with grizzlies, black bears and wolves.”
At this time the compost is stored at the facility and not available for use until potential for Chronic Wasting Disease is evaluated.
“At the end of the day, it takes trust beginning with livestock producers,” Wilson said. “Building on that trust we’ve been really fortunate to have an amazing group of partners who have helped make this program work over two decades.”
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