Montana Natural History Center | Montana Natural History Center

Check out our FREE online educational resources!

Let us help you stay entertained and educated during this time of physical distancing for social solidarity. We’ve put together a great collection of educational resources to keep you curious, learning, and connecting with nature.

Find them here!

Give the Gift of Nature!

“If we are to preserve our natural world, the next generation of leaders must be inspired and involved.”

~Jackie Wedell, Master Naturalist & MNHC Volunteer

Watch our five-part webinar series: The Age of the Coronapocene

Our panel of experts answers some of the big questions: What are viruses? Where did COVID-19 come from? Why is social distancing so important? What does the science tell us?

Webinar recordings available here!

Join the Montana Natural History Center

Become a member today!

Summer Camps!

Join us for a summer of learning, exploration, and adventure!

Camp registration opens on March 12th. Learn more and sign up here!

Upcoming Events

Check out the great programs coming up at MNHC!

Come visit us!

Check out our exhibits, Naturalist Lab, Nature Adventure Playground, and more!

Visiting Naturalist in the Schools

70 classrooms, 1700 students. Learn more about our keystone program.

Montana Master Naturalist Course

Become a certified Master Naturalist!

2020 Virtual Luncheon

Many thanks to our sponsors for supporting us in getting kids out exploring nature!

Check Out Our Free Online Educational Resources!

The Age of the Coronapocene

Watch all five webinar recordings here.

Give the Gift of Nature: Donate to MNHC!

Volunteer at the Montana Natural History Center!

Field Notes from the Montana Natural History Center

A collection of 134 Field Notes in a beautiful book. Order here!

MNHC offers free admission for EBT card holders!

Join a global movement and another way to support MNHC.

MNHC is a member of the ASTC!

Check out all the museums and science centers you can visit for FREE with your MNHC membership!

Montana Naturalist Magazine

Field Notes on Montana Public Radio

Listen and learn about Montana’s flora, fauna, geology, ecology, and more.

Naturalist Blog

Get tips and tricks for outdoor explorations, learn about Montana’s flora and fauna, and read about fun happenings at MNHC!

Museum Field Trips

Bring your class or community group to MNHC for a guided program.

Check out our Annual Report! (It's really pretty.) (And informative.)

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Teacher Benefits Program

A FREE program for K-12 educators.

Science Shorts on YouTube

Check out our educational science videos!

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Instagram post 17952732010346382

Instagram post 17952732010346382

We had lots of fun on our Butterflies with Brian W

We had lots of fun on our Butterflies with Brian Williams and Birding with Pat Jamieson Naturalist Field Days!
#connectwithnature #naturalhistory #missoula

Naturalist Challenge! Observe the diversity and be

Naturalist Challenge! Observe the diversity and beauty of nature. #naturalistmoment

This summer, MNHC's wonderful Christine Wren retir

This summer, MNHC's wonderful Christine Wren retired, after 12 years of being part of MNHC's Visiting Naturalist in the Schools program (first as a volunteer, then staff). Christine's deep love for children, passion for natural history, decades of experience in education, and quiet confidence and compassion make her an incredibly effective educator, an inspiring naturalist, and a good friend. (We miss her already.) In her decade-plus at MNHC Christine helped hone and improve the VNS curriculum; made learning about nature vivid, tangible, and fun for hundreds of Montana kids; and encouraged and inspired everyone who had the privilege of working with her. Christine, we wish you much joy in your new adventures!

#askanaturalist A member was curious about this pl

#askanaturalist A member was curious about this plant they are seeing all over Mount Sentinel and the south side of Missoula.

This is winter vetch, also known as hairy vetch, Vicia villosa (as far as I can tell). It is non-native, introduced throughout North America from Europe for forage (according to the Manual of Montana Vascular Plants by local plant expert Peter Lesica). It is in the pea family (so it is related to lupines and the peas we eat) and the flowers have the classic pea family shape, bilaterally symmetrical with a banner petal on top, two wings on the sides and the lower two petals connected along the bottom to form a keel, or canoe-like envelope holding the style and stamens.

There is a native vetch species in the area, American vetch (Vicia americana). The two species can be distinguished by the number of flowers on one stalk (12-70 and close together for winter vetch and 1-8 and further apart for American vetch) and by how hairy the leaves are (with hairy vetch obviously being visibly hair or covered in hairs and American vetch lacking hairs or only being minimally hairy).

A fun detail about these plants, and other vetch species: vetch species are one of the two Pea family genera found wild in Montana that have tendrils. You can see this is the close up photo you took. The tendrils are actually modified leaflets that the vetch plant uses to wrap around upright structures and "climb" them, extending the height of the plant and its access to sunlight without putting in the energy to develop a strong stalk of its own. Tendrils are a really cool adaptation, especially in how they "know" when to wrap around something. They are touch sensitive, and respond to coming into contact with another object by coiling around that object. And some tendrils also use chemical sensitivity to know what to wrap around and what not to. See this scientific article about how tendrils use chemical sensitivity to avoid wrapping around leaves or stems stems of plants in their own species: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2016.2650. Cool stuff!

Send us your #askanaturalist questions!

#mnhc #discovernature #naturalistchallenge

This summer, MNHC is working with the University o

This summer, MNHC is working with the University of Montana Paleontology Center to debut a new Montana's Ancient Past exhibit. The exhibit will feature fossils on loan from UM as well as the Two Medicine Dinosaur Center. The exhibit was made possible in part by generous funding from the @US_IMLS #IMLSGrant⠀
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MNHC members have the opportunity to be a part of virtually evaluating this exhibit before it goes up. If you would like to help with the exhibit, become a member today using the link in our bio.⠀
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The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's libraries and museums. They advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. Their vision is a nation where museums and libraries work together to transform the lives of individuals and communities. To learn more, visit http://www.imls.gov and follow IMLS on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USIMLS and Twitter: https://twitter.com/us_imls

If you're looking for a fun and educational at-hom

If you're looking for a fun and educational at-home option for your kids this summer, check out MNHC's new Summer Explorer Kits program! Summer Explorer Kits feature activities, materials, and inspiration for a full week's worth of outdoor exploration and learning. They also include optional (but fun!) virtual components to connect kids directly with MNHC teaching naturalist mentors. We've got options for both elementary schoolers and early learners.

Visit https://www.montananaturalist.org/summer-explorer-kits/ to learn more and sign up!

#kidsinnaturearehappy #mnhc #discovernature

It’s time for #TriviaTuesday, and today’s ques

It’s time for #TriviaTuesday, and today’s question is about one of our favorite avian anglers: the Osprey!

In this photo, which Osprey is the male and which is the female? How can you tell?

Let us know what you think, and check back here later for the answer!

Slime Mold! MNHC Museum Coordinator & Volunteer C

Slime Mold! MNHC Museum Coordinator & Volunteer Coordinator Drew Lefebvre made this cool discovery in the Great Burn Wilderness over the weekend. Have you ever found #slimemold? Images by Drew Lefebvre.

#mnhc #naturalistchallenge #explorenature #natureiscool

#montanamonday #glaciernationalpark has many iconi

#montanamonday #glaciernationalpark has many iconic species, but one that stands out for most people is the mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus). Mountain goats are uniquely adapted to life in steep and snowy mountains.

Their distinctive white coats provide camouflage against the snow, as well as insulation to survive temperatures as low as -50°F. Though they aren't known for their speed while running across flat terrain, they are unmatched in their ability to climb steep, rocky slopes and cliff faces. Their hooves are softer than most ungulates with rough pads to increase traction and spreading toes to increase balance. They use their climbing abilities to escape from predators and usually forage near escape terrain, steep, broken, rocky terrain that their predators have difficulty chasing them through.

MNHC Teaching Naturalist Ser Anderson took these photos near the Hidden Lake Overlook while conducting a mountain goat survey for GNP's High Country Citizen Science Project.

Do you have a favorite mountain goat memory? Share in the comments!

#mnhc #mountaingoat #discovernature #naturalistmoment #MontanaMonday #GlacierNationalPark #glaciernps #glaciermt #montanamammals #montanawildlife #citizenscience #hiddenlake #mountaingoats #oreamnosamericanus #montanagram

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