Restoring Centuries-Old Wildlife Passages in Montana
Migratory species such as pronghorn, mule deer, moose, and elk rely on the ecologically diverse and expansive landscape in the sagebrush biome of the High Divide. Ancient migratory routes of these iconic species are often threatened by fencing, impeding movement and fragmenting habitat along their journey. Working with volunteers, landowners, and state and federal agencies, we removed or converted 33 miles of fences to allow pronghorn and other species to freely move across the rugged landscape of southwest Montana.
This brings our total to over 50 miles of fence conversions since the program began in 2021. Our team leverages resources to accelerate the pace and scale of habitat restoration across land ownerships, transforming this wild, rural corner of Montana into a place where people and wildlife thrive.
Photo Credit: Lucas Assenmacher
Pharmaceutical Companies Must Seek Alternatives to Horseshoe Crabs for Biomedical Testing
This year, the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) approved Chapter 86, which recognizes synthetic alternatives to horseshoe crab blood for medical testing. Biomedical use of horseshoe crab blood is at an all-time high, with over half a million – and in some years close to one million – crabs bled annually. About 15% die from the bleeding process each year (with some estimates suggesting the rate could be closer to 30%).
Photo Credit: Marcus Sibley
Native Plant Habitat Programs Provide Scientifically Superior Results
The Federation launched a national native plant movement with its Garden for Wildlife® and Certified Wildlife Habitat® program over 50 years ago, culminating in over 314,000 certified sites, millions of habitat stewards and community partners. Today, multiple studies demonstrate the benefits of increasing and maintaining diverse native plant communities. Our model provides more abundant and higher-quality habitat relative to non-certified yards. Another study shows that wildlife friendly yards use 25% of water that conventional lawns require.
Photo Credit: Judy Johnson