By building dams, beavers reshape Montana's streams into resilient, water-storing wetlands. The northern Rockies hold an abundance of wildlife that has vanished from much of the country.

Beaver ponds store water and buffer against drought and fire.

What sets it apart

Their dams create habitat for fish, birds and amphibians. That detail is easy to overlook, but it helps explain the pull this place has on Montanans and visitors alike.

Restoration projects increasingly enlist beavers as partners.

Why it matters

In the end, the story here is really a story about the northern Rockies and the people drawn to them. Give these animals room, and the reward is a glimpse of a wilder, older America.