Glacier Region, Montana Wildlife / Nature

The Glacier region in northern Montana is overflowing with opportunities to enjoy wildlife. So much of the land in the area is protected by park or forest service making it common to see and identify many different species of flora and fauna. Whether on a scenic drive or a nature trail, take a moment to appreciate the plants and animals in the area.

The variety of animals in the Glacier region include mountain goats, bighorn sheep, moose, elk, mule deer, bison, coyote, black bear, grizzly, and grey wolves. Some of these critters are easier to spot than others but consider yourself lucky whenever spotting wildlife and remember to keep your distance.

Mountain goats call the sheer faces along mountainous cliffs home. Their luck and sense of balance allow them to seek this high and courageous terrain for protection from predators. Mountain goats eat lichen and small grasses that grow between rocks right off these cliff walls. Unfortunately they don't live very long because rocks wear their teeth down, eventually causing starvation. It is common to see mountain goats right from the road.

Another creature that is easy to spot from the road, and typically in the middle of the road is bison. At one point in time over 60 million bison lived in the northern U.S. Native Americans relied on these beasts for food, clothing, shelter, and tools. Today, the bison population has dwindled, yet they still call most of Montana and Wyoming home. They are plant eaters and typically weigh about 1,000 pounds. They travel together in large herds, sometimes using main roadways as their route.

Moose are actually the largest antlered animals in world, weighing between 800 and 1000 pounds. Only the males grow antlers, which are flat and wide, reaching six feet wide at times. Moose spend their time in meadows and marshes, eating underwater veggies. They are fantastic swimmers. Moose can be unpredictable and aggressive.

From late September to early October, the bugling of bull elk is a common background noise. Elk live in high alpine meadows and are very social animals. They spend their time in open spaces and if necessary hide in forests from predators and weather. Being the people-shy critters that they are, elk are most easily spotted in refuges or on preserves.

Coyotes are very adaptable animals. They hunt on their own, eating everything from bugs to larger animals. Coyotes typically have mates for life and fathers play a large role in raising pups and teaching them to hunt. Chances are if you hear a high pitched wail at night, you are listening to a coyote.

Unlikely to see on roads or main trails, grizzly and black bear frequent the Glacier area. Grizzlies are primarily omnivores, eating mainly grass, berries, plants, and roots. The color of their fur ranges from blond to black and when standing they tower at 8 feet tall!! They are distinguished by a large hump over their shoulders and a scoop shaped forehead. Black bears eat berries and nuts, as well as fish and other small animals. They have a wonderful sense of smell. Black bears have a distinctive white patch on their chest and stand at about 4 to 5 feet tall.

Montana is one of the few homes for gray wolves, a.k.a. timber wolves. They are very social creatures and tend to stay in a single pack throughout their lifetime. The power of numbers is what lets them kill larger animals like elk and deer. It is common for a pack to have a hierarchy and the entire pack helps to raise a litter from one female. Although it is uncommon to spot them, there are quite a few packs in northern Montana.

You'll constantly be scanning the wilderness for the larger animals above, but keep your eyes peeled for chipmunks, skunks, mountain lions, raccoons, porcupines, and red foxes. Look in trees, scan the skies, or listen closely for the sounds of birds like bald and golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, osprey, mountain bluebirds, meadowlark, great blue heron, pelicans, and loons.

If you are into identifying wildflowers, you won't make it very far if you are going on a hike. Wildflowers fill the forest floors and mountain sides. Along the forest floors you will find wildflowers like bear grass, Oregon grape, shooting star, mountain lady's slipper, calypso orchid, sticky geranium, rocky mountain lily, and hare bells. In the wetlands, keep a look out for monkey flower, iris, monk's hood, arrowhead, skunk cabbage, cow parsnip, and sedge. Grasslands are filled with Indian paintbrush, arrowleaf balsam root, nootka rose, lupine, oyster plant, mullein, prairie coneflower, and bitterroot. Remember to enjoy wildflowers and plants by identifying them, not by picking them.

There are so many species of plants and animals in the Glacier region of Montana that it is rare for any one visitor to spot them all. Taking pictures is a great way to document what you have seen and identify each critter or flower later.