The American Prairie Reserve (APR) is an organization attempting to create the largest nature reserve in the continental U.S.
Upon its completion, APR hopes the reserve will span 3 million acres of private and public lands, and house animals such as bison, wolves, bears, deer, and greater sage-grouse.
The organization has recently acquired Blue Ridge Ranch, a 14,000-acre property located in southern Phillips County, MT.
The property acquisition brings the total amount of APR property to more than 419,000 acres.
The organization said in a released statement that the ranch is well known for its wildlife, and the property “brings together a diverse landscape including sagebrush steppe, rocky buttes and breaks, and ponderosa pine covered hills, offering crucial wildlife habitat for many plant and animal species.”
Reserve Superintendent Damien Austin said, “The topography and habitat of Blue Ridge are extremely important to the regional elk population,” and, “We feel very fortunate to be able to add such a wildlife-rich area to the Reserve.”
APR CEO Alison Fox concluded by saying the acquisition “moves us one step closer to achieving our goal of building a refuge for people and wildlife preserved forever as part of America’s heritage.”
