| American Prairie | |
|---|---|
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| Location | Northeast Montana |
| Nearest city | Malta |
| Coordinates | 47°44′41″N 107°46′33″W / 47.74472°N 107.77583°W |
| Area | 462,803 acres (1,872.90 km2) |
| Established | 2001 |
| Operator | American Prairie Foundation |
| Website | Official website |
American Prairie (formerly known as American Prairie Reserve or APR) is a prairie-based nature reserve in Central Montana, United States, on a shortgrass prairie ecosystem with migration corridors and native wildlife. This wildlife conservation area is being developed as a private project of the American Prairie Foundation (APF), a non-profit organization. The reserve covers 462,803 acres (187,290 ha).[clarification needed] The organization hopes to expand it greatly through a combination of both private and public lands.
The foundation allows public access to the land for outdoor recreation activities such as hiking, mountain biking, hunting, and fishing. The predominant economic activity in the region is the raising of cattle on homestead parcels along with adjacent rangeland leased from the federal government. Ranchers in the region are invited to adhere to wildlife-friendly standards on their ranches and required to follow specific rules when grazing their cattle on American Prairie's parcels. Within large but securely fenced areas, American Prairie is developing a bison herd with attention to heritage genetics and minimal cattle introgression. Wildlife-friendly fencing allows the natural movement of wildlife such as pronghorn. Animals like prairie dogs are welcome amidst the native vegetation.