Distinctly Montana Magazine

57 w w w. d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m N ESTLED BETWEEN CORVALLIS AND THE BIT- TERROOT RIVER in the heart of the river's name- sake valley sits Teller Wildlife Refuge, a not-for-profit privately owned nature reserve with a rich history of conservation, agriculture, and community engagement that endures to this day. As you walk into the wilds of the refuge, traffic noise from Highway 93 and the Eastside Highway is overtak- en by bird calls from white-breasted nuthatches and red-winged blackbirds accompanied by the drumming of pileated woodpeckers. Red-tailed hawks soar over- head. Artesian springs warm a section of creek where great blue herons gather in the throes of winter. Juni- pers, hawthorns, and cottonwoods provide food and shelter for black bear, red fox, moose, elk, and white- tailed and mule deer. "You can walk through the river bottom and have a chance to see any one of those spe- cies," says Teller's executive director Dan Bailey. Teller's origin story began many years ago with Otto "Mose" Teller fishing the waters of the Bitterroot Riv- er and hunting within the surrounding wetlands and forests. Over time, Otto and his wife Anne witnessed these wildlands change with the encroachment of civ- ilization and a shift away from the traditional agricul- tural communities once prominent in the valley. They felt the need to act. With the help of their friend and attorney, Phil Tawney, the trio succeeded in protecting 1,200 acres on the outskirts of Corvallis by putting it under a permanent conservation easement through the Montana Land Reliance resulting in the establishment of Teller Wildlife Refuge in 1988. Dan explains that Otto and Anne continued to be involved on the refuge following its inception. "They would share the refuge with folks from the communi- ty and build relationships here in the valley. There are still a lot of our supporters who have been supporting us since the '80s who have that direct relation to the Tellers," says Dan. Otto and Anne are no longer with us, but other passionate stewards are here to watch over the refuge, which means this land is forever protected and stands today as a shining example of what a small group of dedicated Montanans can accomplish. Teller's minimal staff works tirelessly to nurture existing relationships within the community, and build new ones with the goal of fulfilling the mission of the original founders—to inspire, educate, and demonstrate conservation in action. In addition to Dan, Heather Tellock serves as the director of devel- opment, Nicole Ballard is the conservation education director, and administrative assistant Karen Zumwalt wrangles everyone and everything together. A 10-per- son board of trustees use their diverse backgrounds and connections to help raise money and spread the word about Teller. by SUSIE WALL • photos by HEATHER TELLOCK This land is forever protected AND STANDS TODAY AS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF WHAT A SMALL GROUP OF DEDICATED MONTANANS CAN ACCOMPLISH.

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