Spring Fence Collaboration

May 11th, 2016

By: Joshua LisbonEducation Director

On April 16, Dan Spencer’s environmental studies class joined other community volunteers, Oxbow Cattle Company, Montana FWP, and MPG to retrofit fence in the Bitterroot River floodplain. Thirty people worked together to replace existing fence with wildlife friendly fence.

Students removed the existing top and bottom strands of barbed wire and replaced it with smooth stand wire. We raised the bottom height to 18 inches and lowered the top height to 42 inches. We left the center two strands of barbed wire so that the fence will still keep cows in place.

We built over a mile of fence that will both help to keep cattle out of the sensitive areas adjacent to the river, and allow wildlife easy access to the river.

About the Author

Joshua Lisbon

Joshua graduated from the University of Montana, Missoula, in 2009 with an M.A. in Intercultural Youth and Family Development. Joshua has designed and implemented wilderness and experiential-based education programs for various agencies since 2001. He has worked in Missoula since 2005 predominately with disadvantaged populations providing challenging and empowering programming for youth and adults alike.At MPG, Joshua works to coordinate with local agencies and school districts as well as the university to connect students and members of the community to MPG’s work. He also recruits and mobilizes volunteers to accomplish various projects for the ranch. In his free time, Joshua enjoys exploring Montana’s wild places. As an avid outdoorsman, he enjoys any pursuit that keeps him connected to the natural world.