Particular emphasis is placed upon the 

 inter-relationship of animals to soil, water, 

 and plants. 



Adult Education 



During this biennium the Department spon- 

 sored the wildlife extensions' forums for adults 

 through the MSU and MSC. In addition to 

 this, Department representatives met with 

 sportsmen clubs to explain management pro- 

 grams and regulations. 



Trapper Education 



The Montana Fish and Game Department, 

 in order to assist persons having damage 

 caused by fur-bearing and predatory animals, 

 initiated the Extension Trapper Instructor pro- 

 gram on a pilot basis in the Hi-Line area. 



A group of Boy Scouts receives field training in trap- 

 setting techniques. Many groups such as this one received 

 instruction in trapping methods. (Photo by Max Stone.) 



Research and investigations state that when 

 predatory animals prey upon livestock and 

 poultry, it is due to the work of one or a 

 few individuals. When these are removed, 

 damage usually stops until others develop the 

 habit. The logical person to control livestock 

 and poultry losses- is the farmer or rancher. 

 This type of control is quick, effective, se- 

 lective, and economical. Money is not wasted 

 in killing off those predatory animals not 

 causing livestock or poultry losses. 



It is the duty of the Trapper Instructor to 

 meet with groups and individuals who request 



this assistance, and give talks on predator-prey 

 relationships, show movies and slides, hand 

 out literature on trapping and make demon- 

 strations of trap settings. Often a set is made 

 on a farm or ranch to take an animal causing 

 damage. A farmer or rancher is then quali- 

 fied to make sets by himself in the future 

 should the need arise. 



An influx of red fox and other lesser nui- 

 sance animals caused considerable apprehen- 

 sion on the part of sportsmen, farmers, and 

 ranchers. The reaction was to press the Fish 

 and Game Department for a bounty system. 

 Much of the effort of the Trapper Instructor 

 was directed toward demonstrating the inef- 

 fectiveness of a bounty system. In July of 

 1959, the bounty was removed from the bob- 

 cats, and the red fox was removed from the 

 fur-bearer list and left unclassified. This latter 

 move was very helpful in dealing with the red 

 fox problem. Certainly the removal of the 

 bounty on the bobcat was a step in the right 

 direction and in keeping with sound game 

 management concepts. 



Not all requests for assistance came as a 

 result of carnivore activity. Beaver damage 

 control required considerable time. Extended 

 and no-limit beaver seasons greatly assisted in 

 reducing beaver damage complaints. 



Due to the proximity of wild animal rabies 

 in North Dakota, particularly red fox and 

 skunks, some .ime was devoted to educational 

 programs to inform the public about rabies 

 and its control. 



Several methods of furnishing information 

 were used. Television programs, radio pro- 

 grams, newspaper articles, meetings with 

 groups (sportsmen's clubs, civic organizations, 

 4-H Clubs, FFA groups, Boy Scouts, elemen- 

 tary and secondary schools), forums, county 

 fair exhibits, and newsletters. In addition, the 

 following publications were distributed at 

 meetings and mailed to persons requesting 

 them: "The Red Foxes of Michigan", the 

 Michigan Department of Conservation; "Pred- 

 ator Control, How and Why", the Missouri 

 Conservation Commission; "A New Approach 

 to Predator Management in Montana", "Mag- 

 pie Ups and Downs", "You Should Know 

 About Rabies" and "From Traps to Pocket- 

 book", all published by the Montana Fish and 

 Game Department. 



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