FUR RESEARCH PROJECT 



During the past year a fur section has been added to the wildlife 

 restoration staff. The chief objective is to gain as much information 

 as possible regarding this resource. This information will form a 

 valuable background for fur bearer management within the state. 



Field checks tied in with a questionnaire from trappers have in- 

 dicated the value of the past year's fur harvest by districts. 



Several specific problems are being investigated at this time. One 

 regards the relation of otter to game fish. Another, the effect of large 

 sanctuaries, such as Glacier Park, in repopulating surrounding areas 

 with valuable fur bearers — particularly marten. A third represents 

 a detailed study of beaver in southwestern Montana. Their relation- 

 ship to game fish and stream flow are interesting sidelights of this 

 overall work, the result of which will be recommendations helpful in 

 the management of this important fur bearer. 



PREDATOR CONTROL 



Predators might be defined today as those animals that character- 

 istically prey on animals wanted by man for his own use. Under truly 

 wild conditions predators play an important part in keeping what is 

 called the balance of nature. However, when human beings step into 

 the role of the predator by hunting and by cropping surplus animals 

 it sometimes becomes desirable to curtail the predators. 



In order to most effectively accomplish predator control, the 

 various agencies and groups interested have formed a Predator Con- 

 trol Board. This is composed of the Montana Fish and Game Depart- 

 ment, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Wool Growers and the 

 Livestock Association. Each contributes a portion of the cost of con- 

 trolling predators since benefits are shared equally. Control operations 

 are actually conducted by employees of the Predator Control Division 

 of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and costs are paid from the 

 cooperative fund. 



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