When it comes to the wildlife of Montana, you'll find a greater variety of animal species than you will in just about any other state. Many people plan Montana vacations with the sole purpose of doing some wildlife viewing, and there is practically no limit to the amount of ways that you can catch glimpses of the native animals here. As for where to view Montana wildlife, there is no limit to the possibilities in that department either. One could effectively say that Montana is one giant animal preserve, and even if searching for Montana animals while exploring the outdoors isn't part of your plan, you're still bound to see an array of interesting creatures. Just be sure to bring the bear mace with you when entering grizzly country.

Since the Montana animals are prolific in number, hunting is something that you can consider doing if that piques your interest. Hunting isn't for everyone, and many people choose to casually observe the Montana animals as opposed to tracking them. As for the Montana animals that you can see during your visit, the list is a long one. Horses, bears, deer, elk, moose, wolves, porcupines, and bats are among the mammals that you can expect to come across when looking for Montana wildlife. Various frogs, a couple species of toads, and salamanders and newts are among the amphibians that you'll find here, and when it comes to reptiles, softshell turtles, alligator lizards, boas, and vipers figure among the bunch. Many folks who come to see the wildlife of Montana are avid birders, and if birdwatching is your thing, you can look for quails, loons, pelicans, cranes, falcons, hummingbirds, wrens, sparrows, and bald eagles, among the many other species.

Arming yourself with a competent Montana field and animal guide is a terrific idea when looking to do some animal viewing, as these kinds of guides can help you identify and learn more about the species that you come across. Hiring a guide to help you distinguish and learn all about the wildlife of Montana is a good idea as well. Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park are two of the best places to enjoy both guided and unguided Montana wildlife viewing expeditions, so you might start there. Elk, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and grizzly bears are among the larger creatures that you can expect to see at Glacier National Park. Down in Yellowstone, grizzlies can be found as well, and you're also bound to spot some wolves, bison, and trumpeter swans, among other species.

Montana Map

In addition to heading to a national park, those who want to observe some Montana wildlife can also head to any number of state wildlife refuges. Along with viewing wildlife at the state wildlife refuges, visitors can also enjoy some fishing and/or camping on the side. As you will learn when examining the outdoor possibilities in Montana, numerous activities can often be paired or enjoyed together. On Montana wildlife viewing tours, for example, things like white water rafting and horseback riding will often figure on the agenda. For multi-day wildlife viewing tours, camping out instead of staying at a hotel is often part of the plan as well. You don't have to book extended wildlife tours to see Montana animals, however, as shorter day trips can be organized. Many times, there is no need to organize a special outing if you want to see some Montana wildlife. At various mountain lodges and statewide parks, for instance, animals are prone to wander fairly close to the people.

Finally, when it comes to where to view Montana wildlife, don't forget to consider the state's wildlife centers. Places like the Beartooth Nature Center, the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center, and The Wolf Keep, are among the top Montana wildlife centers. Should you be planning on visiting Billings and you are interested in seeing some animals, ZooMontana and Botanical Gardens is worth the visit.