NPS photo In 2009, an inventory of the rare native Lemhi penstemon flower (Penstemon lemhiensis), a striking flowering plant found at Big Hole National Battlefield, yielded important information on population sizes there. Results confirm that the park supports some of the largest known populations of the species. The sparse distribution of the species in the park makes for a challenging sampling situation. The western toad (Bufo boreas) and the Northern Rocky Mountain gray wolf (hi’min, Canis lupus) are listed by the Montana Natural Heritage Program as “species of special concern”. Bald eagles (saqanta’yx, Haliaeetus leucocephalus) are regularly seen in the park but are not residents. The lack of habitat types and suitable nesting trees do not provide the resources necessary to facilitate long-term occupation and nesting opportunities. Other sensitive species that may be found in the park include Montana arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus), mountain plover (Charadrius montanus), swift fox (tili’pcxi, Vulpes velox), great gray owl (Strix nebulosa), and Boreal owl (Aegolius funereus). 
NPS photo Camas (Camassia quamash) is a bulb-producing lily that was one of the most widely utilized plant foods of the Nez Perce people. Camas was also a focal resource at many of the significant historical events memorialized by Big Hole National Battlefield and Nez Perce National Historical Park. The battle at Big Hole occurred at a traditional Nez Perce camas harvesting campsite. Camas is therefore a central element of the cultural landscapes that Big Hole NB seeks to interpret for the public. Camas is annually monitored so that park staff can better understand the status and trends of plant populations and, in turn, make informed decisions about resource management and restoration.
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Last updated: April 11, 2026