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Elk
Montana has the second largest elk population in the United States, with 150,000 elk. Elk can be found in prairie regions, foothills of mountain ranges, and in the mountains themselves. One of the largest elk herds in Montana roams across the Big and Little Snowy mountains of central Montana. The east side of the Bridger Mountains, just north of Bozeman and Livingston, is also home to large herds of elk.
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Mule Deer
Mule deer are a type of deer that are known for their large ears, which are about three-fourths the length of their head. They are stocky animals with sturdy legs and can weigh between 130-280 pounds. Mule deer are usually tannish-brown in the summer and brownish-gray in the winter. They have a small white rump patch and a small, black-tipped tail.
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Yellow-Pine Chipmunk
Yellow-pine chipmunks are found in western Montana and Wyoming, and in mountainous areas of California. They live in brush-covered areas, coniferous forests, rocky outcrops, and logs. Yellow-pine chipmunks are dark and reddish, mixed with cinnamon.
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Moose
Moose are the largest antlered animal in the world. They have a dark brown to black coat, a large overhanging snout, and a pendant "bell" under their throat. They have a strong sense of smell and hearing, but can't see well. Their long nose can smell a predator a mile away. Moose prefer to live in forests, wetlands, clear cuts, river valleys, and mountain meadows.
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Western Tanager
Western Tanagers are a medium-sized songbird that can be found in Montana. They are sparrow-sized and are usually found in higher elevations in conifer forests. Male Western Tanagers are bright red and yellow with black wings. Females are duller, sometimes mostly grayish, with faint yellow on the face and undertail coverts.
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House Finch
The House Finch is a common backyard bird in Montana. They are small-bodied songbirds with conical bills and notched tails. The males have red heads, breasts, and rumps, and brown streaks on their backs and bellies. The females are plain gray-brown with light streaks.
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American Robin
The American Robin is the largest thrush in North America. They are known for their loud, liquid song, which sounds like "cheerily cheer-up cheerio". They are often heard singing in the morning, and are a common member of the dawn chorus of songbirds. They arrive in Montana in March and April and return to Mexico from September through November
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Red-Tailed Hawk
Red-tailed hawks are large birds with broad, rounded wings. They are often seen circling over open fields or perched on telephone poles. They are brown on the back and pale underneath. Krider's Red-tailed Hawks, found in eastern Montana, are a very pale race. They are light mottled brown above and nearly pure white below. Red-tailed hawks have sharp eyesight that is eight times better than a human's.
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Prunus Virginiana
This Montana native, perennial plant has dark green and glossy leaves and dense clusters of white flowers. Commonly known as Chokecherry, it also grows red fruit that ripens to a dark purple color. As a result, it attracts a number of different birds. In fact, Chokecherry is widely thought of as a very important wildlife plant in that it not only provides a food source, but also a vital habitat to these animals.
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☠ Lathyrus Vernus
Lathyrus vernus, commonly known as spring vetchling or spring pea, is a flowering plant native to various parts of Europe and Asia. It forms a dense clump of pointed leaves with purple flowers in spring, shading to a greenish-blue with age. The seeds of this plant are toxic and can cause a condition called lathyrism. The seeds contain amino acids that can cause bloating, pain, infection, and paralysis.
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Artemisia Tridentata
Also known as big sagebrush is an evergreen shrub or small tree that can grow to be 1.5 to 9 feet tall. It has gnarled branches covered with small, silky, silvery leaves. The leaves are blue-gray to blue-green in color due to dense gray hairs. Big sagebrush is a common shrub in the West. It prefers dry conditions and requires minimal watering. It thrives in its native arid habitats
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☠ Sambucus Racemosa
Known as red elderberry is a small tree or shrub with dark reddish-brown bark. It has opposite pinnately compound leaves, which is a good characteristic to look for. You can often find red elderberry along stream banks or in moist clearings or open forests. Red elderberry berries can be eaten raw or cooked. However, the seeds are poisonous and should be removed. The berries should always be cooked because raw berries cause nausea
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☠ Lupinus Sericeus
Also called pursh's silky lupine is a flowering plant in the legume family. It is native to western North America, from British Columbia to Arizona, and east to Alberta and Colorado. The plant is a perennial herb with erect stems that grow from a woody caudex and deep root system. It can grow to be between 20 and 40 inches tall. Pursh's silky lupine has pink flowers and leaves with seven to nine leaflets. Silky lupine contains toxic alkaloids.
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Vaccinium Membranaceum
Commonly known as huckleberries, are a type of berry that are native to the northwest and are known for their sweet-tart flavor. They are Montana's most iconic berry and are often found in high-elevation forests. Huckleberries are smaller and darker than blueberries. Huckleberries are in season in Montana in late summer.
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☠ Achillea millefolium
Also called the common yarrow is a flowering plant in the Asteraceae family. It is also known as old man's pepper, devil's nettle, and thousand seal. Common yarrow is native to Europe and western Asia, but has become naturalized in North America. It is one of the most widely distributed native flowers in the western United States. Bitter leaves are toxic to pets and horses.
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Erythronium Grandiflorum
Erythronium grandiflorum, commonly known as yellow glacier lily is a North American plant in the lily family. It's also known as the yellow avalanche lily, dogtooth violet, trout lily, snow lily, and fawn lily. It is one of the first plants to flower after the snow melts in the high alpine. It grows in large patches in rich, moist soil along stream banks, in shaded woods, and in subalpine meadows. The flowers bloom from late May through early July.
