This diverse and rugged region sits astride the"Crown of the Continent" of northwestern Montana and encompassesroughly 9,600 square miles, including Glacier National Park,the Swan Valley, the Rocky Mountain Front, surrounding national forests,the Bob Marshall wilderness complex and other wilderness areas, andintermingled private lands. The ecosystem supports at least 675 grizzlies (U.S.Geological Survey). The population appears to be expanding out of thewilderness heart of the NCDE into historic range, and bears seeking newterritories are increasingly using habitats on private lands.Highways, a major railroad, and rapid development in these once-wildlandscapes are fragmenting the ecosystem and pose considerablehazards to grizzlies. Since 1990, Vital Ground has helped protectmore than 30,000 acres of grizzly habitat throughout the NCDE.
Schatz Ranch Conservation Easement (1,565 acres), near Helena, MT
Cooney Creek Conservation Easement (320 acres), Swan Valley, MT
McKay Creek Conservation Easement (110 acres), Swan Valley, MT
Condon Creek Conservation Easement (160 acres), Swan Valley, MT
Ingersoll Ranch (4,229 acres), Rocky Mountain Front, MT
Swanson Ranch (4,354 acres), Rocky Mountain Front, MT
Coyote Forest (80 acres), Swan Valley, MT
Blackfoot-Clearwater (3,834 acres), Blackfoot-Clearwater Wildlife Management Area, MT
Mud Lake (484 acres), Flathead Valley (Wolf Creek), MT
Windfall Creek (80 acres), Swan Valley, MT
Rising Wolf Ranch (164 acres), Rocky Mountain Front, MT
Crawford Ranch (1,977 acres), Rocky Mountain Front, MT
Parocai (470 acres), Rocky Mountain Front, MT
Durocher-Rappold (2,086 acres), Rocky Mountain Front, MT
Theodore Roosevelt Ranch (Boone & Crockett Club), Rocky Mountain Front, MT
Dellwo Ranch (5,960 acres), Rocky Mountain Front, MT
Toy Property (240 acres), Rocky Mountain Front, MT
Cedar Creek Conservation Easement (160 acres), northwestern Montana, near Glacier National Park
