Viewing wildlife within the District varies between habitat types. Within areas of mixed-grass prairie grasslands and sagebrush sagebrush
The western United States’ sagebrush country encompasses over 175 million acres of public and private lands. The sagebrush landscape provides many benefits to our rural economies and communities, and it serves as crucial habitat for a diversity of wildlife, including the iconic greater sage-grouse and over 350 other species.
Learn more about sagebrush , one can expect to see species such as pronghorn, upland sandpipers, mule deer, sharp-tailed and sage grouse. Areas having more trees harbor numerous tree-nesting songbirds, mule deer, and porcupines. Open grasslands feature pronghorn, mule deer, transient elk from a distance, bobolinks, meadowlarks, and perhaps a long-billed curlew in short grass probing for earthworms. Lakes and wetlands hold many species of waterfowl depending on the season, as well as shorebirds, wading birds, and water-obligate species like yellow-headed blackbirds.
We ask that you please help make a difference and help protect District lands and your wildlife resources when visiting. Please report wildlife violations and suspicious activity any time you see them to an officer. Every set of eyes and tips are helpful to officers. To report a violation, please email NWR_TIPs@fws.gov 24 hours a day or call:
NWR Violation Reporting Hotline: 1-844-FWS-TIPS (397-8477)
State hunting and fishing violations: 1-800-TIP-MONT (847-6668)
In non-emergency events or for general law enforcement questions, contact the CMR Headquarters (406)-538-8706 and ask to be directed to the officer who works in the area where you have questions. Please be advised that our officers are usually in the field, so leaving messages in their direct voicemail is often the best way to get in touch with one.