Michael G. McDonald

Oct 10, 1952 -

Jun 21, 2020

Michael "Mike" Gerard McDonald passed away in his Missoula, Mont., home on June 21, 2020, with heart-related complications. He was born on Oct. 10, 1952, in St. Paul, Minn., to Dr. William "Bill" McDonald and LeVon (Lee) McDonald. In 1956, the family moved to Missoula.

In August 1971, Mike entered the University of Portland in Portland, Ore. His junior year was spent at the University program in Salzburg, Austria, and he graduated in 1975 with a degree in biology.

The next chapter of his life included a master's in wildlife biology at the University of Montana, marriage to Christine Zagurski, and the birth of a son, Jason, in 1979. In 1981, Mike accepted a position as a wildlife biologist for the Alaska State Department of Fish and Game, in Anchorage. Mike and Christine divorced in 1982, with both remaining committed to their son.

Mike loved working for Fish and Game. Collaborative work relationships, significant friendships, challenges of dealing with people and politics, appearing before the media and authoring articles relevant to his work - with moose, in particular - made the 20-year experience fulfilling. Perhaps his most noteworthy accomplishment was creation and implementation of a gate system that directed moose to move under the highway to get to and from their food and water supply. In 2009, Mike retired from the ADF&G and returned to Missoula where he enjoyed many years with his golden retrievers.

Mike is survived by his son, Jason McDonald; and siblings, Bill McDonald and Patty McDonald Blackburn. Together, with extended family and friends, they look forward to celebrating Mike at the family cabin on Seeley Lake.