Montana Named One Of The Best States For Wildlife Conservation

Here in Montana, we are lucky to have incredible wildlife and wide open spaces in every direction. That does not happen by chance. Many people here dedicate their careers and lives to protecting the landscape and the wildlife that make this place special.

A new report from SmileHub takes a closer look at how states are doing when it comes to conservation. With more than 1,300 plant and animal species in the United States listed as endangered or threatened, the need for strong wildlife protection continues to grow. Nationwide, there are over 21,000 native species and thousands of invasive species competing for survival. Add in development, pollution, and climate-related pressures, and the challenges become even more complex.

The organization evaluated all 50 states using 17 different measurements. These included the number of animal-focused charities per resident, how much land is set aside for parks and wildlife, state wildlife grant funding per person, and the level of risk from issues like overharvesting and invasive species.

Montana ranked 10th overall for wildlife protection in 2026. We placed 4th for wildlife grant funding per capita and ranked 3rd in addressing threats tied to the overuse of species. Montana also performed well in limiting risks connected to invasive species. I’d give credit to our watercraft inspections for that one.

States that ranked ahead of Montana were Washington at 9th, New Hampshire at 8th, Maine at 7th, Alaska at 6th, California at 5th, Colorado at 4th, Oregon at 3rd, Wyoming at 2nd, and Vermont at the top spot.