Chief among Montana�s attractions are its millions of residents. Only a few of those residents are people, while the rest are deer, bears, elk, moose, eagles, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, buffalo and hundreds of other species of animals. Montana�s list of wildlife superlatives is impressive. For instance, Montana has the largest grizzly bear population south of Canada, the largest migratory elk herd in America, the largest population of breeding trumpeter swans in the lower 48 states and the nation�s largest herd of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep.

For visitors who want to catch a glimpse (or a photo) of Montana�s wildlife, the state participates in the national �Watchable Wildlife� program, identified by signs all across the state (look for the white binoculars on a brown sign). The goals of this program are to: 1) Provide enhanced opportunities for the public to enjoy wildlife on public and private lands; 2) Contribute to local economic development; 3) Promote learning about wildlife and habitat needs; and 4) Enhance active public support for resource conservation. A panel of wildlife experts from state and federal organizations selected all sites. These sites point wildlife watchers to everything from large game habitats to meadows filled with butterflies. A companion guide book, Montana Wildlife Viewing Guide, is also available in bookstores. It includes detailed descriptions of each viewing site, maps, information about access and viewing tips. Be sure to visit our wildlife website at www.wildlife.visitmt.com. The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks hosts a site that can help identify Montana wildlife at fwp.state.mt.us/fieldguide.

Montana also has numerous Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and 15 National Wildlife Refuges that protect vital habitat for elk, deer, ducks, geese, pheasants, grouse and many other kinds of wildlife. The refuges (along with nearby towns) are:

Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge (Great Falls) - waterfowl, migratory birds Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge (Malta) - waterfowl Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge (Lewistown) - deer, elk, bighorn sheep Hailstone National Wildlife Refuge (Lewistown) - waterfowl, deer Half Breed National Wildlife Refuge (Lewistown) - migratory birds Lake Mason National Wildlife Refuge (Lewistown) - waterfowl Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge (Stevensville) - ospreys, waterfowl, elk, bears, moose Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge (Medicine Lake) - waterfowl, migratory birds National Bison Range (Moiese) - bison, bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge (Ronan) - waterfowl, migratory birds, owls Pablo National Wildlife Refuge (Pablo) - migratory birds, loons Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge (Lima) - trumpeter swans, sandhill cranes Swan River National Wildlife Refuge (Creston/Kalispell) - waterfowl, migratory birds, moose, bobcats, bears UL Bend National Wildlife Refuge (Lewistown) - migratory birds War Horse National Wildlife Refuge (Lewistown) - migratory birds

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Media Contact: Donnie Sexton +1 406-841-2897 donnie@visitmt.com