Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has issued a Decision Notice for the Witt Roadside Menagerie Draft Environmental Assessment--a proposal to issue a Roadside Menagerie permit to Salima Witt to possess 3 non-human primates northwest of Darby, Ravalli County. No comments were received during the comment period, and the permit will be issued upon final inspection of the menagerie facilities.
(Decision Notices - 05/21/2012)

The enclosed Decision Notice has been prepared for the Middle Madison Trumpeter Swan Reintroduction Project. A total of 1 comment was received during the 14-day comment period ending May 21, 2012. This Decision Notice and EA are available for review in Helena at FWP’s Headquarters and the State Library. They also may be viewed on FWP’s Internet website: http://www.fwp.mt.gov. Fish, Wildlife & Parks has decided to proceed with the proposed project with no changes to the Draft EA. Thank you for your interest.
(Decision Notices - 05/21/2012)

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks proposes to introduce westslope cutthroat trout to a fishless reach of Twelvemile Creek, a tributary to Deep Creek in the Big Hole River Drainage. Non-hybridized westslope cutthroat trout are present in Twelvemile Creek, the last non-hybridized population in the Deep Creek drainage. The cutthroat population is low and declining due to competition from non-native brook trout. Approximately three miles of fishless habitat is present in Twelvemile Creek upstream of a cascade fish barrier. FWP proposes to capture the cutthroat trout in Twelvemile Creek using electrofishing and transporting the fish upstream of the barrier with the hope of conserving this population before it is extirpated.
(Species Removal & Relocation - 05/18/2012)

The enclosed Environmental Assessment (EA) has been prepared for the proposed Reintroduction of Native Westslope Cutthroat Trout in Ruby Creek by removal of Nonnative Rainbow Trout with Electrofishing and Rotenone. This project proposes to establish a genetically pure westslope cutthroat trout (WCT) population in approximately 9 miles of Ruby Creek, a tributary to the Madison River south of Ennis. The expected donor populations for the proposed project are the only two remaining aboriginal genetically pure WCT populations in the entire Madison Drainage, together occupying about 6 stream miles. The project would begin in August or September 2012. Prior to applying rotenone, electrofishing will be conducted throughout a significant portion of the Ruby Creek project area to physically capture and transfer rainbow trout to the Madison River. Only after this effort is completed would rotenone treatments to remove the remaining rainbow trout begin. A second rotenone treatment may be necessary in 2013 if all rainbow trout are not captured or removed in 2012. Upon successful completion of rainbow trout transfer or removal, eggs from the donor populations would be collected, fertilized on-site, reared in the private Sun Ranch Hatchery south of Ennis, and stocked in Ruby Creek either as eyed eggs or fry. Introductions will be conducted for at least two years, possibly more, pending the results of monitoring. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks invites you to comment on the attached proposal. The public comment period will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. June16, 2012. Comments should be sent to the following:
(Species Removal & Relocation - 05/17/2012)

A Decision Notice has been prepared for the Mount Haggin Forest Management Project Environmental Assessment. Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) proposes to remove standing dead and green beetle-infested lodgepole pine from select areas on Mount Haggin Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in order to reduce road- and trailside hazard trees. Merchantable dead and dying timber will be removed from certain expanded road- and trailside units in order to cover costs of the project including removal of noncommercial trees, road improvements, and weed control.
(Decision Notices - 05/08/2012)