Landmark Series—Behind the Bandana: Wild Horse Island, Flathead Lake, Glacier National Park
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Nestled in the untamed wilderness of Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River, Wild Horse Island is a hidden gem waiting to be explored. Flathead Lake is situated in the Flathead Valley and is surrounded by breathtaking panoramic views of the Mission Mountains to the east and the Salish Mountains to the west. Revered by the Salish-Kootenai tribes as a sacred site, Wild Horse Island carries historic significance. Only accessible by boat for day use, this island is a sanctuary for unique wildlife, rare plant species, and one of only three Palouse Prairie ecosystems in the state of Montana.
(Source: Wikimedia Commons, Ser Amantio di Nicolao)
Let the Wild Horse Island Landmark Bandana be your guidebook to native flora and fauna on your next visit. Here is a closer look at the featured species:
Arrowleaf Balsamroot
Bighorn Sheep
Bitterroot
Edith's Checkerspot Butterfly
Green Drake Mayfly
Orange Honeysuckle
Osprey
Rainbow Trout
Wild Horses
Yellow Velvet Beetle
FIELD GUIDE:
Land Acknowledgement:
Glacier National Park is located in the ancestral homelands of the Amskapi Piikani (the Blackfeet Nation of Montana), the Niitsítapi (the Blackfoot Confederacy), the Séliš (Salish), Ql̓ispé (Pend d’Oreille or Kalispel), and Ktunaxa (Kootenai). The state of Montana recognizes the First Nations peoples, these tribes are the original and longest-serving stewards of the lands. Flathead Lake resides near the Flathead Indian Reservation. This area has been inhabited for thousands of years and today is home to the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes.
#1. Arrowleaf Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata)
As a proud member of the sunflower family, the Arrowleaf Balsamroot showcases its beauty in a unique way. Its "flowers" are actually clusters of delicate blooms, gracefully arranged on a stem. With a taproot that reaches up to 8 feet deep, this remarkable plant possesses incredible resilience in the face of fire and drought. Its name, Arrowleaf Balsamroot, pays homage to its distinctively shaped leaves and the fragrant balsam-like resin found in its roots. Medicinal benefits were discovered by Native Americans who used the large coarse leaves as soothing poultices for burns, while the roots were boiled to create a healing tea, treating ailments such as tuberculosis, whooping cough, rheumatism, headaches, and insect bites among its other edible uses.
#2. Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis)
These remarkable native wild sheep of North America are renowned for their awe-inspiring large, curved horns and unmatched agility in rugged mountainous terrain. Named after their iconic horns, which can weigh up to 30 pounds in males (rams), they utilize these incredible tools for defense, mating battles, and dominance displays. Even the females (ewes) possess smaller, less curved horns. With their brownish-gray coat blending seamlessly into rocky surroundings, these social animals form herds ranging from a few individuals to over 100. Equipped with split hooves for exceptional grip on rocky surfaces, they confidently navigate steep cliffs and outmaneuver predators.
#3. Bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva)
Discover the Bitterroot, a plant named for its distinctive bitter taste and valued for its fleshy taproot, which historically played a vital role in the lives of numerous Native American tribes, including the Shoshone, Nez Perce, and Salish. This revered root was often dried and ground into flour for cooking in soups and stews. Despite its bitter reputation, the Bitterroot serves as a symbol of resilience, celebrated as the state flower of Montana. With its beautiful five-petal flowers that range in color from pale pink to deep purple, the Bitterroot blooms in the spring from April to June, showcasing a delicate yet powerful presence. As the species name "rediviva" suggests, the Bitterroot has a unique ability to restore itself from a lifeless state to one of vibrant renewal when watered.
#4. Edith's Checkerspot Butterfly (Euphydryas editha)
(Source: Wikimedia Commons, Kaldari)
Recognized by its stunning wings adorned with black, red, and pale yellow or white bands, this remarkable species also boasts a submarginal band featuring delightful yellow or white spots, alongside a wide postmedian band that shines in vibrant red. On the undersides of their wings, you'll find alternating bands of yellow-orange and cream. With a wingspan ranging from 3.2 to 5.1 cm, these butterflies call mountain habitats their home, specifically on ridgetops, spanning from coastal chaparral and open woodland to the breathtaking alpine tundra.
#5. Green Drake Mayfly (Ephemera danica)
Green Drake mayflies are remarkable insects that command attention with their substantial size, measuring around 1 to 1.5 inches in length. With their distinct greenish-yellow body, clear wings, and three tails, they effortlessly stand out in the natural tapestry. As the late spring to early summer arrives, these empowering creatures emerge, often during the tranquil late afternoon or evening, becoming a pivotal moment for anglers and aquatic ecosystems alike. Their presence can be understood as an indicator of healthy water quality.
#6. Orange Honeysuckle (Lonicera ciliosa)
Orange Honeysuckle is a captivating and delicious shrub that stands tall at 6 meters, with unique hollow twigs opposite oval-shaped leaves that merge at each twig base. Their stunning trumpet-shaped flowers, stretching from 2-4 centimeters in vibrant orange-yellow hues, thrive in whorls above the disk leaf at the ends of shoots. Immensely fragrant, they attract hummingbirds and butterflies, blooming from late spring to early summer and producing translucent orange-red berries that are edible either raw or cooked.
#7. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Osprey are magnificent birds of prey acclaimed for their remarkable fishing skills and widespread distribution. They are particularly common near coastlines and bodies of water. Ospreys are well-adapted for fishing in that they have specialized talons and spiny footpads that help them grip slippery fish. They hunt by soaring innocuously over water, hovering briefly, and then plunging feet-first to catch fish near the water's surface. Ospreys have a distinct appearance with predominantly white heads, necks, and underparts, and dark brown upperparts. They have a wingspan of about 5.9 to 6.6 feet and are well-equipped for long-distance flight. An Osprey may log more than 160,000 migration miles during its 15-to-20-year lifetime. Listen to the Osprey’s birdcall here.
#8. Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
The vibrant rainbow trout is a freshwater fish renowned for its ethereal colors and athletic abilities. With their distinct pinkish stripe along their sides, light-colored bellies, and greenish-blue backs, adult rainbow trout captivate both anglers and nature enthusiasts alike. They usually range from 20 to 30 cm long and weigh about 8 pounds. These spirited creatures are a highly prized catch for their aggressive behavior and tenacious fighting prowess, making them a sought-after target for recreational fly fishing, spinning, and bait fishing.
#9. Wild Horses (Equus caballus)
Wild horses are majestic free-roaming creatures renowned for their sure-footedness, strength, intelligence, and endurance. Standing at an average height of 52-60 inches and weighing from 700 to 1,000 pounds, these creatures exhibit highly emotional intelligence, allowing them to sleep standing up and possessing nearly 360-degree vision while boasting unique colors and patterns.
#10. Yellow Velvet Beetle (Lepturobosca chrysocoma)
(Source: Wikimedia Commons: Jarekt)
The remarkable Yellow Velvet Beetle, also known as the Golden Flower Longhorn Beetle, is a small to medium-sized flower longhorn beetle that boasts a captivating appearance, adorned with long, vibrant golden-yellow hairs. Ranging in size from 1 to 2 centimeters, this beetle feeds on flower pollen as adults, while their larvae thrive on the decaying wood of hardwoods and conifers. With their slender, entirely black, thread-like antennae that are as long as their bodies, the Yellow Velvet Beetle is a true marvel of nature.
Ready to geek out on more nature facts? Head over to our Landmark Series page for more.