Montana's Diverse Lands, Waters, and Wildlife
With over 90 million acres of land, 40,000 lakes or ponds, and 98,000 miles of named streams and rivers, Montana has been tagged “The Last Best Place.” Over 600 vertebrate species are known to exist across Montana’s diverse landscapes, ranging from forest-covered mountains in the west, to grasslands and sagebrush in the east. Montana’s hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities are the basis of many outdoor traditions.
Montana's Planning Approach
Montana’s Comprehensive Fish and Wildlife Conservation Strategy is an extensive analysis of more than 600 species of birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and mussels along with the places they live. The strategy sets out to identify critical habitats for both species in need of conservation and species that are doing well.
The strategy consists of four components: geographic focus areas, fish and wildlife community types, species of greatest conservation need, and species in need of inventory. Focus areas have been identified as geographic starting points for Fish, Wildlife and Parks and partners to direct combined efforts to conserve Montana’s community types and species in greatest conservation need.
Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks
