The elk are found in the rough Missouri River Breaks and 

 along the Missouri River bottom. The dense willow stands and 

 Cottonwood groves in the riverbottom are used for cover and the 

 nearby hay fields, bottoms and grass-covered hills are used for 

 feeding. Several islands in the Missouri River, Two Calf Island 

 being the most important, provide elk with maximum security, 

 cover and food and are, therefore, important elk habitat. 



There appears to be a definite trend where these elk, which 

 were only occasionally observed in the study area, are now es- 

 tablished there on a yearlong basis. Numbers remain low, with 

 about 20-30 elk present at any one time. 



The 1978-79 elk observations. Appendix Table 5, continue to 

 show that some elk are wintering on the bighorn sheep winter 

 range. Considering the plight of these bighorns (see section on 

 bighorn sheep) , any elk use on the bighorn sheep winter range 

 would be detrimental to the sheep. Elk management programs on 

 the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Range should include 

 plans to avoid any elk-bighorn competition for winter range. 

 The CMR should also be managed in a manner to preclude livestock 

 overgrazing of elk habitat in the riverbottom, on the islands 

 or on any other elk winter range. 



O ther Animals 



Western Segment 



Beaver 



The beaver ( Castor canadensis ) is one of the primary fur- 

 bearers along the Missouri River and its tributaries. Other 

 sought-after species would include mink, muskrat, bobcat, and 

 coyote . 



Beaver are found associated with the cottonwood-willow 

 riparian vegetation found on islands and river banks. For the 

 most part, they occupy bank burrows; however, a few lodges are 

 found in cut-off side channels. In these areas a few dams have 

 also been observed. 



Tables 11 and 12 present beaver cache counts that have been 

 flown on the Missouri River and Marias River. For the last 

 7 years, an average of 42.8 caches have been located from Great 

 Falls to Coal Banks Landing on the Missouri River. The 1979 and 

 1954 surveys were quite similar, with only the Loma to Coal 

 Banks reach down from 19 54. Coal Banks to PN Ferry averaged 

 15 caches for the 2 years surveyed. 



On the Marias River below Tiber Dam, an average of 33 caches 

 was located for the 6 years surveyed. Most caches were found on 

 the lower reach below Meissner Ranch. 



41 



