The Blackfoot River runs through the heart of Montana's Glacier National Park, but it's not so much a national park as a local one.
That's because it's home to thousands of native plants and animals, including grizzly bears, cutthroat trout, and mule deer, the Great Falls Tribune reports.
But those animals are in danger of disappearing if the ecosystem doesn't get some help.
That's why the Blackfoot Challenge, a partnership between the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, and local ranchers, is trying to restore the river's ecology by planting native trees and shrubs and taking other steps.
"We're trying to restore the Blackfoot to its natural state," says Blackfoot Challenge Executive Director Jennifer Shoonen.
"If we don't do that, we're going to lose the population of grizzly bears in the region."
That's especially true in the Glacier National Park area, which is home to more than half the state's grizzly bears, but it's not all bad news for the animals.
The Great Falls Tribune notes that the ecosystem is also home to hundreds of species of mammals, birds, and reptiles, including grizzly bears, wolves, bobcats, and terns Read the Entire Article
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