Aerial Insights: Monitoring Wildlife in Montana

This chapter features a wildlife manager from Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks discussing the complexities of conducting aerial surveys to monitor big game populations, particularly elk and bighorn sheep. The manager highlights the timing of these surveys and the challenges of accurately counting animal populations while addressing critical issues such as the decline in bighorn sheep due to disease. The conversation emphasizes the importance of habitat health and community involvement in conservation efforts as wildlife trends evolve.