Petty Creek Big Game EMB Project

Year Completed:  2019 | Project Cost: $42,011.58 | MTWSF Funded $2,500

In the fall of 2018 and spring of 2019, the Montana Chapter WSF funded several units in the Petty Creek Big Game Ecosystem Maintenance Burning (EMB) project on the Ninemile Ranger District, Lolo National Forest.  In partnership with the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, the Forest Service identified the Petty Creek Big Game EMB Project area for prescribed burning and thinning treatments to provide forage opportunities for big game habitat, including elk, bighorn sheep, mule deer, whitetail deer, wild turkey, and upland game birds.  The Petty Creek bighorn sheep herd currently consists of about 150 sheep, which is at or slightly over the objectives set forth in the 2005 Bighorn Sheep Management Plan (MT FWP).  The herd is experiencing positive growth, with moderate to high lamb recruitment (roughly 35-55 lambs: 100 ewes over the last 10 years).

The Ed’s Creek and French Gulch Units received aerial and hand ignition prescribed burning treatments to provide excellent habitat for bighorn sheep and other multitude of species on public lands for the long-term health of the herds, for continuing to provide excellent hunting opportunities on public lands in Petty Creek, and for reducing the need for sheep to seek forage on private lands in the valley bottom where interactions with domestic sheep could be a concern.

The prescribed burning increased both habitat availability and suitability for the Petty Creek bighorn sheep herd.  The treatments maintained and enhanced the growth of grasses, forbs, and shrubs in steep, rocky terrain to provide more nutritious bighorn sheep forage, reduced conifer encroachment in foraging locations, and provided increased sight distances which allows bighorn sheep to be alerted to potential predators.  French Gulch, in particular, is an important lambing location for the bighorn sheep herd and the prescribed burning treatments were key in providing habitat and sight distances for the herd.

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