The Science of the Flathead

Grizzlies, big-horned sheep, wolverines and bull trout don't need Nexus cards to cross the border regularly between Montana and B.C. In mid-March, three leading international scientists spoke in Whitefish, Montana about the importance of permanently protecting B.C.'s Flathead for these at-risk species, and many other trans-border critters.

The scientists gave presentations at a public event organized by Flathead Wild, a coalition of Canadian and American organizations, including Sierra Club BC, that strives to protect a globally-significant wildlife corridor. B.C.'s unprotected Flathead River Valley is a critical link in the corridor, which stretches up the spine of the Rockies from Whitefish to Banff.

"Species that once thrived elsewhere--and are no longer found there because of human activity--have a refuge here," explained Dr. John Weaver, a carnivore conservation biologist who has spent many years studying the transboundary Flathead.

Weaver described how scientists track elk which winter on the U.S. side of the Flathead then migrate up the continental divide into B.C. to give birth to their calves. Cross-border wolf packs and mountain goats are also studied, along with the elusive and fierce wolverine. "Almost all of this trans-border Flathead country is just outstanding habitat for wolverines," said Weaver.

"We scientists are haunted by the ecological complexity we see out there in the natural world. We're also humbled by it. In wonder of that complexity we can celebrate and honour the trans-border Flathead."

Read about the event in the Missoulian.

Dr. Michael Proctor, lead researcher for the Trans-Border Grizzly Bear Project, described how he and colleagues collect grizzly bear hair samples to study the transboundary movements of this at-risk species. Instead of attaching unwieldy radio transmitter collars, they put fish and blood in a jar for a year and use it as bait to collect hair strands, which provide a "DNA fingerprint."

"It's really revolutionized bear biology. These bears don't even know they're being studied and we've learned quite a few things about them."

One thing Proctor and other scientists have learned is that grizzly populations become isolated when animals are separated by highways and human settlement. When bear populations are separated by human development over time, by as little as 120 kilometres, they stop breeding with each other. "The big, tough grizzly bear is really the wimpiest one out there because it's so hard to move him across the landscape," said Proctor.

Fragmented populations result in greatly reduced gene pools. When grizzlies have safe passage through the landscape and can co-mingle, their gene pools are far more diverse, said Proctor. "In fragmented places across highways we've basically found that bears are having no sex. And then we found places that were like a university campus. There's a lot of activity!"

One such place is B.C.'s Flathead River Valley, where grizzlies easily move back and forth between B.C. and the adjacent Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park in Montana and Alberta.

In November 2011, following an intense campaign by Sierra Club BC and other conservation groups, the B.C. government legislated a ban on mining and energy development in the Flathead. The legislated ban is a very welcome first step, but it does not permanently protect this globally-significant wildlife area. Notably, the Outdoor Recreation Council’s 2010 and 2011 endangered river lists placed the Flathead “On Watch,” pointing to the absence of permanent protection.

Stonefly larva in the Flathead River. Photo: Michael Ready, iLCP

The vast majority--90 percent--of native fish species in the trans-border Flathead rely on riparian bottomlands, many for spawning. These floodplains support 235 bird species, half of which nest in the riparian area. An astounding 300 caddis flies, mayflies and stoneflies also thrive in the Flathead, which Hauer referred to as  “truly one of the most bio-diverse places on the planet,” he said.

Today, the Flathead is threatened by plans for industrial logging, new road access, and trophy hunting of grizzlies and other animals that are given sanctuary only steps away in Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Waterton-Glacier is part of the same "Crown of the Continent" ecosystem that includes B.C.’s Flathead River Valley. The United Nations considered this intact ecosystem to be of such outstanding value to humanity that it has designated Waterton-Glacier a World Heritage and two UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. Learn more about Flathead issues.

Take action to permanently protect B.C.'s Flathead River Valley, with a National Park in the southeastern one-third and a Wildlife Management Area in the rest of the valley and adjoining habitat.