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Teller
Wildlife Refuge Mission Statement |
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To inspire, educate and demonstrate conservation in action. |
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SUPPORT OF THIS MISSION, TWR IS COMMITTED TO: |
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- Serving
as a model of land stewardship through habitat enhancement
efforts.
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Offering diverse conservation education programs.
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Providing quality recreational experiences for private
guests and public visitors.
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Promoting voluntary conservation actions on other
private lands.
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STEWARDS OF 1,200 ACRES OF LAND IN THE BITTERROOT VALLEY: |
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- We
believe that TWR must model responsible land stewardship.
- We
value the Teller's resident fish, wildlife, and native
plant species.
- We
recognize and draw inspiration from Otto Teller's
values and beliefs that include:
- Opportunities for quality hunting
and fishing experiences.
- Maintenance and enhancement of
historical buildings.
- Utilization of organic farming
practices and restoration of native plant
communities
where possible and financially affordable.
- Expansion of permanent protection
of local land through private voluntary
actions
- We
believe that education about the natural world and
about the management of land and habitats is a powerful
tool to promote and foster conservation in the larger
community. We provide that education through our example,
through instruction, and through personal experiences.
- We
believe that ethical and responsible recreation, including
hunting and fishing and other activities associated
with TWR resources, contributes to the Teller's conservation
and educational purposes.
- We
believe that access management is an important tool
in conserving the Teller's resources and experiences.
- We
believe that TWR has a unique public purpose to foster
mutual understanding of the needs and interest of
private landowners balanced with the needs and interests
of the public.
- We
believe in creating strong and reciprocal relationships
with the local community.
- We
accept the leadership accountability and fiduciary
responsibility for the Teller Wildlife Refuge; we
believe that if we plan for, value and actively promote
our mission, financial support will grow.
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| CASE
STATEMENT: |
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Our
world is increasingly fragmented, a place where
natural habitats and agricultural lands everywhere
continue to disappear. Ravalli County, with the
fastest rate of growth in Montana, is losing habitat
to housing and subdivisions at an alarming rate.
The Teller Wildlife Refuge serves as an oasis for
both wildlife and human residents and visitors of
the Bitterroot Valley. It is an engaging place to
learn about the outdoors, and experience nature
and our changing environment firsthand.
To help conserve natural
resources on the Teller and beyond our borders,
our goal is to nurture a sense of stewardship, and
a respect for nature and the land. TWR is dedicated
to promoting a deeper appreciation for habitat conservation,
and protecting the rural and agricultural integrity
of the Bitterroot Valley, while enhancing the land
for the benefit of fish and wildlife. |
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| Our
priorities, in keeping with fulfillment of our mission,
are: |
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1)
Conservation – TWR lands
are rich in diversity, requiring land management
techniques that allow the land to improve and sustain
itself. Encouraging growth of native species, wildlife
food plots and monitoring healthy habitat areas
while restoring damaged habitats are among the continuing
projects on TWR. On the acres of active cropland,
the focus is on soil health, using sustainable agriculture
programs that provide food plots for wildlife, noxious
weed control and cash crops. |
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2)
Education – For many years,
TWR has been a prime location for school field trips,
service projects, and classes. TWR's outdoor classroom,
with its wildlife, plants, and water, inspire and
teach visitors of all ages. The property also hosts
a variety of workshops, teacher education programs,
and volunteer trainings annually. Summer and youth
after school programs engage participants in the
TWR garden and in learning about wildlife and habitats
on the refuge. |
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3)
Recreation – TWR is a private
wildlife refuge, with limited seasonal access open
to the public. Enjoyment and interaction with the
environment is the most direct way to promote understanding
and awareness of the habitat around us. Visitor
activities include walking, birding, wildlife watching,
fishing, and hunting. Check our recreation
page for more detailed information on each of
these activities and how you can be involved. TWR
also provides lodging opportunities
with access to the property for visitors. |
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| MISSION
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: |
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2006 Teller Wildlife Refuge Annual Report; click
here to download (PDF format,
requires Adobe Acrobat to open) |
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