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Wildlife in Montana

Here’s what naturalists are spotting in Montana right now - pulled live from recent research-grade observations. Browse by group, explore the map, and identify what you find with Huck.

98,236
recent observations
30
species listed
14
mammals
9
plants
6
birds

Naturalists have logged 98,236 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in Montana. The most frequently seen is the American Bison, with 11,385 recorded sightings.

Mammals account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (14 of the species listed here), followed by plants (9).

Rarer finds confirmed in Montana include Grizzly Bear - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Grizzly Bear
🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist

Most-observed species in Montana

American Bison
Bos bison
11,385 observations · iNaturalist
Wapiti
Cervus canadensis
7,141 observations
American Black Bear
Ursus americanus
4,214 observations
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
4,027 observations
Pronghorn
Antilocapra americana
3,791 observations
Fireweed
Chamaenerion angustifolium
3,645 observations · iNaturalist
Bighorn Sheep
Ovis canadensis
3,508 observations
Lodgepole Pine
Pinus contorta
3,408 observations
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
3,322 observations
Common Raven
Corvus corax
3,167 observations
Sticky Geranium
Geranium viscosissimum
3,091 observations · iNaturalist
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
2,963 observations
Moose
Alces alces
2,879 observations
Glacier Lily
Erythronium grandiflorum
2,822 observations
Creeping Mahonia
Berberis repens
2,752 observations · iNaturalist
Brown Bear
Ursus arctos
2,722 observations
Black-billed Magpie
Pica hudsonia
2,664 observations
Mountain Goat
Oreamnos americanus
2,599 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
2,566 observations
American Red Squirrel
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
2,566 observations
Common Beargrass
Xerophyllum tenax
2,542 observations · iNaturalist
Columbian Ground Squirrel
Urocitellus columbianus
2,467 observations
Arrowleaf Balsamroot
Balsamorhiza sagittata
2,420 observations
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
2,394 observations
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
Thamnophis elegans
2,327 observations
Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
Callospermophilus lateralis
2,265 observations
Thimbleberry
Rubus parviflorus
2,190 observations
Coyote
Canis latrans
2,153 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
2,124 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
2,122 observations

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and may occasionally be wrong, and the ranking reflects where people record and photograph wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily rare elsewhere. Some plants and animals are only out in certain seasons. Treat this as a lively snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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