Mammals at Big Hole

Chipmunks can be found jumping among tree branches and making noise in the forested areas of the park.

NPS photo

Bear Paw and Big Hole National Battlefield, both Montana park sites within Nez Perce National Historical Park, were once the home of large herds of bison (Bos bison), which the Nez Perce traveled to hunt. One nımí·pu· (Nez Perce) name for the Big Hole Valley was “place of the buffalo calf.” Pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana) are now the most common large mammal, but mule deer and white-tail deer (Odocoileus hemionus; Odocoileus virginianus) may be found along stream channels where brush cover is available. Whitetail jackrabbits (Lepus townsendii), desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii), ground squirrels (Spermophilus lateralis), coyotes (Canis latrans), and badgers (Taxidea taxus) are common.

Another name for the Big Hole Valley was “place of the ground squirrels.” To this day, visitors walking along the trail to the encampment area often see numerous ground squirrel holes and piles of discarded burrow soil.

Other mammals found in this conifer/alpine meadow ecoregion are gray wolf (Canis lupus), elk (Cervus elaphus), moose (Alces alces), black bear (Ursus americanus), mountain lion (Puma concolor), beaver (Castor canadensis), and porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum). Some small mammals include flying squirrel (Flaucomys sabrinus), marten (Martes Americana), and woodrats (Neotoma cinerea).

 

Moose can frequently be seen in wetland areas of the park.

NPS photo

Mammals in the Big Hole Valley

• Gray Wolf (Canis lupus): hi’min

• Bison (Bison bison): qoqa’lx

• Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana): coqala’ynin

• Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus): te’wisin

• White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus): i’mes

• Whitetail Jackrabbit (Lepus townsendii): wila’lix

• Desert Cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii): he’yuxc

• Columbian Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus lateralis): ta’tlo

• Coyotes (Canis latrans): iceye’ye

• Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum): sa’cas

• Badger (Taxidea taxus): si’ki

• Elk (Cervus elaphus): wise’w

• Black Bear (Ursus americanus): ya’ka

• Mountain Lion (Puma concolor): koyama’

• Beaver (Castor canadensis): ta’xcpol

• Flying Squirrel (Flaucomys sabrinus): ci’q

• Marten (Martes Americana): ilu’t