Crane on its annual migration from the Texas coast to Wood Buffalo 

 National Park in northwest Canada. 



The expansive Milk River drainage was divided into 34 wildlife 

 assessment units. Given the relatively low habitat diversity of 

 most of the Milk River drainage, 65 percent of the Milk River 

 units fell into Class III or IV final resource value classes. Of 

 the remaining 35 percent, only the Milk River main stem unit 

 between People's and Whitewater Creeks achieved a Class I final 

 resource value for its relatively high quality riparian habitat 

 and species of special concern. In addition to providing habitat 

 for colonial nesting herons, migrating waterfowl, and nesting 

 raptors, this main stem section also contains an historic 

 peregrine eyrie. 



Several additional units of the Milk River system earned 

 relatively high habitat or species values including the upper Milk 

 River from Fresno Reservoir to People's Creek near Dodson, both 

 lower sections of the Milk and Chain of Lakes coulee above Fresno 

 Reservoir and Battle Creek flowing south into the Milk River near 

 Chinook. Outstanding habitat quality was found in these units in 

 abundant wetlands and islands, frequent gallery forests, and 

 relatively good habitat condition and diversity. 



In Willow Creek south of Glasgow and Little Cottonwood Creek 

 high species values were earned for species of special concern 

 such as mountain and piping plovers, waterfowl staging areas, 

 raptor nesting and the western hognose snake. Confirmed from only 

 a few places in eastern Montana, this medium-sized, robust prairie 

 snake has an unusual shovel-shaped and keeled snout used for 

 burrowing in loose gravels. When disturbed, the hognose may 

 display an unusual "possum" like behavior by turning belly up, 

 writhing vigorously, and then lying still with its mouth open and 

 tongue lolling. 



High populations of four key game species of the region, mule 

 deer, antelope, sharp-tailed and sage grouse, were found in 

 Willow, Big Cottonwood and Little Cottonwood Creeks. In addition, 

 significant white-tailed deer and pheasant populations occur in 

 both Big and Little Cottonwood creeks. 



Recreation 



Between Fred Robinson Bridge and Fort Peck Reservoir, the 

 Missouri winds for 20 miles through the Charles M. Russell 

 National Wildlife Refuge, a lesser explored section rated as an 

 Outstanding value resource. The remote 125-mile stretch of the 

 Missouri River from Fort Peck Dam to the North Dakota border, was 

 rated as having Limited to Moderate recreational value. 



The Milk is the other dominant river in this drainage, and in 

 the Montana Outdoors Floater's Guide, author Hank Fischer 



139 



