The Vital Ground Foundation announced last week that it has acquired 160 acres of wildlife habitat in the Yaak Valley.
Located directly north of the 315-acre Fowler Creek area that Vital Ground acquired earlier this year, the additional acres will remain undeveloped as open space and wildlife habitat. Under Vital Ground ownership, the area’s stewardship can now be streamlined to best maintain connectivity for wildlife crossing the valley bottom.

Photos: (Right) The Fowler Creek addition includes rich wetland habitat for grizzly bears, wolves, elk, moose and other wildlife crossing the Yaak Valley bottom. (Photo by Mitch Doherty/Vital Ground Foundation)

(Below) Peeled bark shows evidence of bear traffic at the Fowler Creek addition. Grizzlies and black bears peel tree bark to eat the rich cambium layer beneath.