Purcell Mountains

The Purcell Range of the Columbia Mountains includes critical habitat and provides genetic connectivity for endangered species in the United States, such as grizzly bears and mountain caribou. Wildsight is working with the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative towards a comprehensive, transboundary conservation strategy for the greater Purcell ecosystem, which is part of North America’s Inland Temperate Rainforest.

Wildsight is engaged with grizzly bear researchers to identify grizzly bear habitat in the Purcells, and in particular mapping critical wildlife crossing zones along the developing Highway 3 corridor.

Wildsight has continued to promote and protect the world-class wildlife values of the Purcells from the increasing pressures of human recreation. An agreement has been reached to allow motorized recreation only on existing roads, while protecting grassland and fragile alpine ecosystems. Several voluntary closures have been brokered in critical endangered species habitat - primarily snow machine terrain in core mountain caribou winter habitat.

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