Montana Chapter Annual Conference
Coordination and Collaboration in Conservation
Holiday Inn Downtown,
Missoula, MT
February 23-27th, 2026
We all know that wildlife don’t follow jurisdictional boundaries. We’ve watched the effects of Climate Change impact the environment, regardless of whether the land is Tribal; State; Federally; or Privately owned. And while seeking food, a bear may be looking for a loaded serviceberry bush, but we know they won’t pass up on a household garbage can or an unsecured chicken coop.
In the wildlife and habitat conservation field, the issues we face are often complex and the scope lies beyond any single management boundary. We rely on effective coordination with one another, across jurisdictions and legal boundary lines, to make the greatest impact on wildlife and their habitats. By working together, we can pool resources, expertise, and funding to have a larger impact than any one entity could, alone. For example, regional research and monitoring efforts on Threatened and Endangered species like the North American Wolverine, or Canada Lynx. Data collected across a larger landscape, supplied by multiple State; Tribal; Federal; and Non-Profit agencies, can help researchers model more accurately and provide important insights into species recovery and conservation.
Coordinating habitat management between agencies can also improve landscape consistency. Coordinated burning schedules and water delivery, even weed spraying can increase the impact of any single effort. Wildlife agencies working with non-profit organizations have also helped to secure important habitats through conservation easements. This can help protect larger landscapes, by protecting important travel corridors and connecting already protected habitat complexes.
Another element of this collaboration that we can’t forget to highlight, are the wonderful people in the communities that we live in! They are the stakeholders that share the landscape with wildlife, who also enjoy a healthy ecosystem. They recreate, and are also the volunteers that help count birds and collect important data for programs like the Montana Bee Atlas! We know that our work doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and it takes careful coordination and collaboration to conserve wild spaces and their inhabitants.
In 2026, our Annual Conference of the Montana Chapter of The Wildlife Society will seek to honor one another and celebrate the incredible partnerships we have that enable us to achieve the great work that we all do! Keep up the great work!
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Registration
Early-bird registration NOW – January 23rd. Save money and get sweet TWS swag included free!
First 200 people to register also get a free stainless-steel cup
Abstracts
The abstract submission period has now closed
Plenary:
Coordination and Collaboration in Conservation:
When managing wildlife means managing across jurisdictions and legal boundary lines
Brandon Kittson, Acting Director & Deputy Director, Blackfeet Fish & Wildlife Department
Hilary Cooley, United States Fish and Wildlife Service Grizzly Bear Recovery Coordinator
Kqyn Kuka, Tribal Liaison and Diversity Coordinator for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
Molly McDevitt, Science Director of the Blackfoot Challenge
Neil Anderson, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Region 1 Wildlife Manager
Whisper Camel-Means, Division Manager of Fish, Wildlife, Recreation and Conservation for the Natural Resources Department of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
Workshops
Click the arrow toggles to learn more about each workshop
Authors: Will Janousek1*, Gavin Cotterill1, Tabitha Graves1
- U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, West Glacier, MT, USA.
*Presenter
Cost: Professional $35, Student $15
Time: Tuesday February 24, 9:00 AM -12:00 PM
Understanding how animal aggregation influences disease dynamics is essential for effective wildlife management. This workshop covers a suite of tools developed by USGS and partners that provide managers with flexible approaches to analyzing patterns and changes in aggregation. While the primary focus is on informing key components of chronic wasting disease (CWD) spread, these tools are applicable to other scenarios, such as human-wildlife conflict. The workshop will begin with a presentation by Dr. Janousek providing a conceptual overview of animal aggregation modeling, its relevance to disease ecology, and specific case study examples. This will be followed by approximately two hours of hands-on data exploration using common wildlife data types. Participants will engage with tools designed to analyze spatial and temporal patterns of animal behavior that may contribute to disease transmission. A working knowledge of program R (e.g., loading data, basic syntax) is recommended for full participation, though observers are welcome. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Presenters: Sarah Sells¹, Hannah Sipe¹, Justin Gude²
¹U.S. Geological Survey, Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, University of Montana
² Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
Cost: Professional $35, Student $15
Time: Tuesday February 24, 1:00 PM -5:00 PM
This half-day workshop will introduce participants to the field of Structured Decision Making (SDM). SDM is a formal process for making decisions and is used widely in the field of wildlife management. Participants will learn the basic steps of the SDM process and hear about several case studies of its application in Montana.
Cost: free
Time: Tuesday February 24, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Within walking distance from the conference venue, Boone & Crocket staff will guide participants through their Visitor’s Center gallery, as well as provide an overview of the Boone & Crockett Club! Come and learn about some of the great pioneers of conservation, and how they’ve been at the forefront of conservation in America.
Cost: $10
Time: Wednesday February 25, 10:00 AM -12:00 PM
Join a guided tour through the Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium, which includes a tropical greenhouse filled with butterflies from across the world, as well as an exhibit area featuring a wide array of insects, arachnids, millipedes, centipedes, and crustaceans. The Missoula Butterfly House provides a truly unique experience. Come get your bug on!
Transportation will be on your own, Missoula has a free bus service.
Schedule at a Glance
Small Grants
Application period now closed
Award Nominations
Nomination period now closed
Submit Photos for our Slideshow
Please share photos with us of conservation collaboration in action!
Photos of people, places, or wildlife actively engaging in or benefiting from collaborative conservation would be ideal. We will display photos as a slideshow at the 2026 TWS conference. Thank you for helping us celebrate success!
If you have issues submitting you can also send photos to mttws.secretary@gmail.com
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