Christmas tree habitat structures being placed at Fort Peck Trout Pond

Glasgow-area Boy Scout Troop 861 and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks fisheries staff will be placing Christmas tree habitat structures at the Fort Peck Trout Pond in the coming weeks.

Bundles of Christmas trees will be placed on the ice where they will remain until melting causes them to fall through and settle to the bottom. The goal of these tree bundles is to improve and increase habitat in the Trout Pond and ultimately improve the fishery.

The use of Christmas tree bundles as artificial habitat has been shown in other small bodies of water, like the Trout Pond, to benefit populations of several fish species. Additionally, while this will be the first project of its kind at the Trout Pond, FWP staff along with local community members and organizations have performed similar habitat projects elsewhere in Region 6. 

FWP staff asks that the public not disturb these habitat structures and stay away from them while stationed on the ice. Bundles will be strategically placed in areas where fish can best utilize them for spawning and rearing habitat after ice-off. Appropriate signage will be in place to notify the public of areas to avoid during the time the bundles are on the ice.

Troop 861 and FWP staff thanks the public for their cooperation during this project. Any fisheries-related questions about this project can be directed to biologist Jared Krebs via email or phone at [email protected] or 406-808-7068.