On May 20, 2026, Vital Ground and its conservation partners, including Atira Conservation, permanently protected 160 acres of grizzly bear linkage habitat with a Land and Water Conservation Fund land purchase of the Falls Creek acquisition. The property expands habitat security adjacent to the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness and helps connect the Cabinet and West Cabinet Mountains through the Bull River Valley. Falls Creek was prioritized for protection because of its importance for grizzly bear habitat and high threat of development.

The 160-acre acquisition provides additional conservation lands for grizzly bears in the federally designated Cabinet-Yaak Grizzly Bear Recovery Area. The location of this acquisition is especially important because it contains the region’s most threatened bear population, comprising a mere 45-55 bears.

Grizzlies serve as an umbrella species, meaning their conservation indirectly protects many other species within this ecosystem by safeguarding large habitats and critical environmental resources. Other rare wildlife species that benefit from this newly protected land include the Canada lynx, wolverine, wolves, Westslope cutthroat trout, bald eagles, Townsend's big-eared bats, western toad, trailing black currant, and yellow cress.

The Falls Creek property holds one of the state’s largest waterfalls on private land and supports public access to a network of mountain bike and hiking trails. Other habitat types protected via this acquisition include grassland meadows, conifer stands, wetlands and riparian areas.

Falls Creek was successfully conveyed to the U.S. Forest Service and will be managed long-term to enhance grizzly bear recovery and promote wildlife habitat.

• Total Transaction Cost: $1,382,033
• Atira Conservation Support: $24,000