Montana State University’s Office of Sustainability will co-host a panel discussion on April 18 about maintaining landscape connectivity through wildlife crossings. The event, titled “Living up to the Montana Landscape,” is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. in Inspiration Hall on the MSU campus in Bozeman and is free and open to the public, with RSVPs requested.
The discussion aims to address both challenges and opportunities related to wildlife crossings in Montana. Organizers say the focus will be on collaboration, shared values, and developing durable approaches that support human safety as well as ecological resilience.
Panelists for the event include Breanna Ball from the WYldlife Fund; Lee Spangler, director of the Western Transportation Institute at MSU; staff from the Montana Department of Transportation; and staff from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Daniel Anderson, outreach specialist for wildlife passage at Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, will moderate.
The conversation will cover topics such as science and engineering behind wildlife crossings, benefits of reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions for both safety and economics, and cooperation among agencies, universities, non-governmental organizations, and communities.
Montana State University leads in research funding within the state with annual expenditures exceeding $288 million according to its official website (source). The university also contributes through volunteer efforts, outreach activities, and research focused on improving lives and environmental conditions (source). According to its official website (source), MSU ranks among the top five percent of global universities per the Center for World University Rankings. The university enrolls approximately 17,165 students with an even split between residents and nonresidents (source).
MSU operates as Montana’s land-grant institution with a mission centered around research, education, community outreach aimed at addressing key challenges (source). Its influence extends throughout Montana—and beyond—serving communities across various sectors (source).
The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative is co-hosting this event alongside MSU’s sustainability office. More information can be found at https://y2y.net/event/living-up-to-the-landscape-tour/.