Fowler Creek grizzly habitat conservation project expanded

Key wildlife habitat and the rural, scenic character of Montana’s Yaak Valley will be protected for generations to come as The Vital Ground Foundation enlarged its Fowler Creek conservation project with a 64-acre land acquisition last week.

Nestled amid the Purcell Mountains of far northwestern Montana, the Yaak Valley’s diverse wildlife and limited development make it one of the wildest places in the lower 48 states that does not benefit from the conservation protections of a national park or federal wilderness area. The Yaak is also home to an estimated 25-30 grizzly bears, one of the smallest enduring populations south of Canada.

With major project support from the Wildlife Land Trust, Vital Ground’s expansion of the Fowler Creek project gives grizzlies and numerous other species a wider protected area for movement across the Yaak Valley bottom.