To put this into perspective. Montana has over 27,000,000 acres of federally protected or public land (according to the Wilderness Association).

Thats about 1/3 of the state or in other words the size of all of Ohio or Tennessee. Map of forests from USFS

However while the size of protected or even forested land in Montana is good. Its the location of MT that makes it an incredibly important conservation region. Its long unpopulated border with the Canadian Rockies connects to Yellowstone, the Great basin and the Great plains!

This means that MT has been able to retain populations of wildlife that have pretty much been eradicated in most of the lower 48. Such as moose bison and sheep (i know the photos don't match...I dont have good moose or bison pictures, okay)

Its also an incredibly important fuelling station for migratory waterfowl. Major populations of swans, snow geese and dozens of duck species (Google Freeze out lake), but also sage grouse which are directly threatened by oil and gas.

Montana is a unique haven for wildlife in the lower 48 because of its public lands and because they also act as large corridors for wildlife movement. Im afraid the new republican governor will ruin this...because he's said he's going to.

Also if you're interested region and its wildlife connectivity issues should follow @Y2Y_Initiative and @Aerin_J! They have heaps of information on the importance of this region and the impacts of development on wildlife corridors and connectivity.