Agreement Number
NR200325XXXXG004
Awardee Name
The Blackfoot Challenge
Grant Type
State
Project Title
Drive-Over Electric Mat System – A New Tool for Use with Electric Fences to Deter Grizzly Bears
Awardee State/Territory
Montana
Involved States/territories
Montana
Award Year
2020
Start Date
End Date
Award Amount
$75,000.00
Production/Use
Farmland Agricultural
Resource Concern (Broad)
Habitat
Resource Concern (Specific)
Invasive species
Conservation Practice(s)
Structures for Wildlife
Project Background
The purpose of this project is to develop and test (2) new drive-over electric mat prototypes designed to be an alternative to traditional swing gates in order to deter grizzly bears from accessing an enclosed area with electric fence. The goal(s) of this proposed project is to develop an effective drive-over electric mat for non-lethal deterrence of grizzly bears that can become an NRCS standard practice for EQIP eligible producers. We hope that by developing and testing a new electric fence mat system, that the practice will have broad-scale applications for ranchers, farmers, and landowners who wish to deter bears from an enclosed area using an existing electric fence.
Project targeted to Historically Underserved producers?
No