Sure-footed rams and ewes cling to Montana's rocky faces from Glacier to the Missouri Breaks. The northern Rockies hold an abundance of wildlife that has vanished from much of the country.

Bighorn rams clash horns in fall contests that echo off canyon walls.

What sets it apart

The National Bison Range and Glacier host visible herds. For those who know the region well, it is a point of quiet pride.

Disease transmitted from domestic sheep remains a key threat.

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.