New State Website Helps Montanans Track Wildlife, Plants, and Invasive Species

HELENA — From Bitterroot Valley to Glacier’s doorstep, landowners, hikers, and hunters in Western Montana now have a powerful new tool for tracking species and conservation data. The Montana Natural Heritage Program has launched a redesigned website offering streamlined access to maps, field guides, and dashboards focused on the state’s native — and invasive — plants and animals.

The updated site includes mobile-friendly navigation and a suite of interactive tools like the Montana Field Guide, Map Viewer, and Dashboards and Tools page. Data covers both native and non-native species, making it useful for those managing land, researching habitat changes, or identifying plant life on public trails.

Two major features are on the way:

• A Montana Beaver Restoration Hub, aimed at supporting habitat restoration projects
• A Montana Invasive Species Watchlist, designed to help users recognize and report environmental threats

Western Montanans can also submit sightings of plants and animals using integrated tools like iNaturalist or MTNHP’s custom forms. For anyone concerned about native plant health, the site includes the newly published Montana Native Plant Conservation Strategy.

The Montana Natural Heritage Program — part of the Montana State Library since 1983 — employs field experts who catalog and maintain critical biodiversity data. Their work informs conservation planning across public and private lands throughout the state.