Merging Art and Nature: Local Artists Protect Important Wildlife Habitat with Conservation Easement

Driven by their commitment to conservation, two local artists secured a conservation easement today on a property that provides a vital link for wildlife movement. Darrell and Lael Gray partnered with Flathead Land Trust to safeguard their vibrant 20-acre forested property at the base of the Swan Mountains east of Bigfork. Located near extensive areas of the Flathead National Forest, the Gray’s lush property, rich with diverse woodlands, springs, creeks and wetlands, provides habitat for a wealth of wildlife migrating through thousands of acres of nearby public land.

Originally owned by a photographer for “Wild Kingdom,” the larger 160-acre parcel encompassing the easement was utilized for wildlife filming. “I purchased our piece in 1990. I was in awe right from the start,” Darrell recalls. Serving as part of a critical wildlife travel corridor between the Swan Range and Swan River, the property is visited by grizzly bear, black bear, mountain lion, moose and gray wolf. Within the forest-wetland mosaic on the parcel, numerous other animals find refuge and resources. Kingfishers, osprey, geese, ducks of all kinds and great blue herons are regular visitors. Frogs, snakes and dragonflies are abundant. Two ponds and a network of several creeks running through the property provide essential water for wildlife. “The ponds are a magnet for wildlife,” the Grays report.

The property radiates a magical feel, clearly enjoyed by both wildlife and humans. Darrell’s whimsical sculptures stand watch over his artfully crafted ponds and grounds. Occasionally a bear or otter will take a swim among these inanimate guardians. A mile of personal walking trail is as likely to harbor boot prints as a steaming pile of mountain lion scat. Together, the Grays have set up a studio onsite, where Darrell spends many hours creating his large-scale multi-media sculptures while Lael paints. “Living in such a beautiful natural area gives me an endless amount of inspiration and subject matter for my paintings,” Lael, former owner and designer at Northwind Shirt Company in Whitefish, expressed. The majority of the property remains as undeveloped open-space, however, allowing for undisturbed wildlife use within the mixed coniferous forests, wetlands and riparian areas.

Conserving the Gray property through a land protection agreement strengthens the ecological integrity of the entire region. This easement, nestled within a large interconnected network of open space critical habitat, plays a crucial role in maintaining the health and water quality of the Swan River watershed. As a vital piece of the region’s forest and wetland mosaic, it will serve as an enduring oasis for both wildlife and humans.

Darrell was interested in protecting the wild nature of the property since he purchased it. “From the beginning it was very important to be a knowledgeable and good steward of the land. We strive to integrate with the forest and keep our impact light.” Today, with securing a conservation easement, the Grays have cemented their profound commitment to stewardship, a legacy that will endure for generations.

Map of the Gray Conservation Easement and surrounding public and protected lands