The Vital Ground Foundation has expanded its Fowler Creek Grizzly Habitat Conservation Project in Montana’s Yaak Valley with a 64-acre land acquisition. The Yaak Valley, nestled amid the Purcell Mountains, is home to an estimated 25-30 grizzly bears and is known for its diverse wildlife. The Fowler Creek project aims to protect crucial habitat and enhance connectivity for grizzlies and other wildlife in the Yaak Valley, which lacks the conservation protections of a national park or federal wilderness area.
The Wildlife Land Trust has played a significant role in supporting this expansion, emphasizing the importance of securing key habitat for far-ranging wildlife. With public land on three sides and two creeks running through the Fowler Creek complex, the newly-conserved acres will be managed as open space and wildlife habitat. This strategic expansion builds on adjacent parcels acquired by Vital Ground in 2021.
The Yaak Valley’s grizzly bears, facing one of the smallest enduring populations south of Canada, rely on an open and connected landscape for survival. The conservation of habitat linkages, such as Fowler Creek, enables bears to move safely across the larger regional landscape, contributing to genetic diversity and the long-term sustainability of the population.
Mitch Doherty, Conservation Director for Vital Ground, emphasizes the need to work diligently to preserve rugged, off-the-grid places like the Yaak, stating, “If we want to continue to have rugged, off-the-grid places like the Yaak, we need to work harder than ever to keep them that way.”
Fowler Creek, beyond its significance for grizzlies, supports other threatened species such as bull trout and Canada lynx. The One Landscape conservation strategy by Vital Ground focuses on linking biodiversity strongholds in the Northern Rockies while preserving open space and rural character from the Canadian border through Idaho and Montana to the Greater Yellowstone area.
By leveraging the grizzly’s role as an umbrella species, the One Landscape strategy fosters collaborations between local landowners, wildlife experts, and nonprofit partners. The Fowler Creek project exemplifies this collaborative approach, aiming for lasting protection of crucial landscapes shared by both wildlife and communities. The expansion underscores the commitment to wildlife conservation and the preservation of Montana’s unique ecosystems.
