In June 2024, GYC and the U.S. Forest Service finalized the second phase of the Absaroka-Beartooth Gateway acquisition project, turning several former mining claims in the New World Mining District into protected public lands. Now, the risk of mining on these lands is greatly reduced.

Southwest Montana’s Madison and Gallatin mountain ranges are some of the wildest places left in the continental United States. These wild lands are beloved by those who live here and those who visit, and they are under threat. That’s why the Gallatin Forest Partnership has developed a realistic solution to permanently protect 250,000 acres of public land in the Madison and Gallatin ranges – the Greater Yellowstone Conservation and Recreation Act.

What are some of the ways you enjoy spring? In this staff picks blog, we’re excited to share with you some of our staff’s favorite things to listen to, read, see, and explore in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Some of these recommendations will help you enjoy the quiet while others will have you planning for summer.

During the summer of 2023, GYC assisted with a study using trail cameras to better understand grizzly bear and livestock interactions in the Gravelly Range of southwest Montana. After snapping images for almost five months, the trail cameras were collected in October and GYC staff discovered the incredible range of wildlife that call these mountains home.

Deep in the rugged Gravelly Range, GYC, as part of the Ruby Valley Strategic Alliance, is working to keep bears wild, people safe, and livelihoods intact by studying grizzly bear presence using camera traps on grazing allotments. Hear from our new Montana Conservation Coordinator Sally Schrank about her mountainous, buggy, and wildflower-filled field days in this beautiful and dynamic landscape.