Track Montana's Wildlife Online

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Studying Montana’s animals and plants is easier and more fun with the Montana Natural Heritage Program’s new "Tracker" web site and its online Montana Field Guide, both on the MNHP web site.

Students of all ages can use interactive maps to learn where a variety of wildlife species have been sighted. The maps link to state databases storing nearly one million observations by biologists and wildlife watchers dating back to the late 1800s.   

"The Tracker puts an atlas of Montana’s wildlife right on the desktop," said Sue Crispin, director of the NHP.   "Montanans can see where an animal or a rare plant has been found in the state, and then turn to the Field Guide to learn what is known about the species, see color photos, and even hear animal calls."

Tracker offers information about where more than 900 wildlife species have been observed statewide. A user in Great Falls wondering where to go "frogging" and what to listen for can, by using Tracker, identify three nearby locations where the Boreal Chorus Frog may be found. A link to the Field Guide provides a detailed description of this frog, color photos, breeding dates, and a recording of its call.

Wildlife watchers can also record personal observations and access them by signing in and clicking "My Observations," to create a diary of their outdoor experiences.   For instructions on how to sign in, go to the Tracker and click on Help then Help With Tools, or go to:   http://mtnhp.org/Help/Tracker/Account.asp.

For viewing animal or plant data or planning treks anywhere in Montana, Tracker also provides access to maps and aerial photos for the entire state.  

To use the Natural Heritage online Tracker and Field Guide, go to the Natural Heritage Programs home page at: mtnhp.org . The Natural Heritage Program is a partnership of the Montana State Library and the University of Montana.