Bitterroot Ecosystem
While the vast Selway-Bitterroot region awaits the return of a resident grizzly population, we’re building the corridors from other ecosystems that will help bears get there naturally.
Vital Ground has not completed any projects within the Bitterroot, but our work on the edges of the Cabinet-Yaak, Northern Continental Divide and Greater Yellowstone ecosystems improves grizzlies’ chances of moving safely into the region.
Grizzlies in the Bitteroot:
• Last grizzly sighting verified by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service occurred in 2007
• Thanks to large protected habitat cores and proximity to existing grizzly populations, remains designated as recovery zone under FWS Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan
• Ecosystem spans much of central Idaho and small portions of western Montana
• Habitat cores includes 4.6 million acres of wilderness within 3 designated areas (Selway-Bitterroot, Frank Church-River of No Return and Gospel Hump), along with neighboring portions of 5 national forests (Bitterrot, Lolo, Nez Perce-Clearwater, Payette and Salmon-Challis)
• Communities in or adjacent to include: Missoula, Hamilton, Salmon, Challis, Stanley, McCall, Riggins and Grangeville
Other Habitat Projects
in Grizzly Recovery Ecosystems
Vital Ground protects and restores habitat for grizzly bears and other wildlife, connecting the wild strongholds of the Northern Rockies. We group our projects based on the grizzly’s six federally-designated recovery zones, working to link these core areas into one resilient landscape.