Bitterroot Elk Herds Have Picked Some New Roads to Roam

Along with icy roads, blinding snowfall and other drivers, Bitterroot motorists always need to keep looking for animals crossing the roads in the valley. That includes deer, an occasional moose, and more and more elk.

Recently, the Ravalli County Sheriff's Office has been sending out travel advisories from at least four different locations for elk herds crossing US 93 or other roadways. The most recent caution was issued for Tuesday morning, February 19, with a herd covering a wide swath between Golf Course Road on out to the Skalkaho Highway and Fish Hatchery Road. Other locations this week have been a herd south of Hamilton on US 93 at Lost Horse Road Sunday morning and a different herd February 17, Sunday evening on US 93 near Stevensville's Super One Foods.

Of course, individual deer can cross the roads at just about any time in any place in the valley. Elk herds this winter have been seen generally in the Bell Crossing area and East Side Highway, and at the south end of Hamilton by the Grange Hall. Keep your eyes open. They're out there!