More than twenty years ago – before the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust was even established – the Demetriades family granted conservation easements to the Conservation Endowment Fund to protect their property in Montana. These easements protected different sections of the property from development and abusive uses and prohibit recreational and commercial hunting and trapping, just as all of the Wildllife Land Trust’s conservation easements do.

In May 2009, the Demetriades Wildlife Sanctuary was established by the assignment of the Conservation Endowment Fund’s conservation easements to the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust. Located east of Lima, Montana, the 240-acre property is in the heart of Centennial Valley and holds the headwaters of the Missouri River. (In the summer of 2005, Montana Outdoors published an article, The True Utmost Reaches of the Missouri, by Anthony Demetriades.)

The varied landscape includes wetlands, prairie and mountainous areas, allowing it to support large populations of many wildlife species. Among the “species of concern” in Montana known to roam the area are the gray wolf (endangered), grizzly bear (threatened) and wolverine (sensitive).  The presence of these “umbrella species” assures us that many more species also call this sanctuary home.

The pristine beginning of the Missouri River provides the necessary elements for the many birds – rare and common – who live and raise their young within the sanctuary.  Sandhill cranes, trumpeter swans, peregrine falcons, bald eagles and a variety of hawks occupy the sanctuary and the neighboring Red Rocks Lakes National Wildlife Refuge to name only a few.

Although this sanctuary remains privately owned, the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust has an obligation to perform periodic inspections to ensure that the wildlife habitat remains in good condition and that the terms of the conservation easements are being met.  These inspections, and the handling of any destruction or violations, cost heavily in professional staff time, consultants, and travel expenses. In addition HSWLT needs a reserve of funds for the substantial legal fees needed if enforcement of violations involves court action.

HSWLT has promised to protect this property as sanctuary forever -- and that promise will be kept.  If you can help with the cost of stewardship for this and the other properties HSWLT protects, please donate here.

» Learn more about peregrine falcons.

» Request an information package about WLT.

» Please consider WLT in your estate planning.

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