Montana wildlife: what lives here and what is dangerous
Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Montana has 1 venomous snake named by official sources: Prairie Rattlesnake, as labelled by Montana State University Extension. This guide covers 9 animal groups from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks lists and other official sources, with photos, venomous status and when each group is active.
Identification help has limits: a photo cannot confirm that an animal is safe. Watch from a distance and never handle a wild animal.
These are the animals official sources describe as venomous or as a risk to people in Montana, across 6 groups. The reason is given in the source's own terms.
Slightly toxic saliva has caused mild envenomations: “The Western Hog-nosed Snake contains slightly toxic saliva secretions, which have caused mild envenomations in some humans”
Venomous: “The Northern Scorpion is rarely known to sting people. Scorpions hunt and feed on insects and other small prey that they can get their claws around …”
Darker cells are the months with more open-licence observation records of each group in Montana (GBIF). They show when people see and record these animals, not how many there are. The current month, this month, is highlighted.
Are there copperheads or water moccasins in Montana?
No. FWP says the rattlesnake is the only venomous snake of Montana's 10 species; neither appears on the Field Guide list. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
Sources differ. MSU's current page finds no conclusive evidence of necrosis; its 2005 guide calls it medically important. Montana State University Extension
DPHHS: Lyme disease is the most common tickborne illness in Montana residents, but all cases were acquired out of state. MSU (May 2022) says the blacklegged ticks that carry it are not established in Montana. Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
“Montana only has 10 native snake species, of which, only the Prairie Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis) is venomous.”
“…only the Prairie Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis) is venomous.”
“Prairie Rattlesnakes occur throughout Montana, typically below 6,500 feet”
“Activate emergency services as soon as possible by dialing 911.”
“If you encounter a snake, simply maintain a safe distance (three times the body length) and walk around, allowing plenty of space.”
“Do not attempt to kill the snake, as many bites occur during the process.”
“Do not handle a freshly-killed snake, as it can still inject venom for some time following death.”
“Most bites occur between the months of April and September when snakes and humans are most active outdoors.”
“Snakes are generally not active when temperatures dip below 60° F.”
Living with Snakes. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. archived copy, captured May 18, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.Quoted passages (2)
“Of the 10 species of snakes found in Montana only the western rattlesnake is poisonous.”
“If you have a problem with snakes, the best advice is to just leave them alone.”
Northern Scorpion - Paruroctonus boreus. Montana Natural Heritage Program (Montana State Library) with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks: Montana Field Guide. archived copy, captured October 16, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.Quoted passages (4)
“This species is the only scorpion found in Montana.”
“The Northern Scorpion is rarely known to sting people. Scorpions hunt and feed on insects and other small prey that they can get their claws around. The sting injects a dose of paralyzing venom similar to that of spiders.”
“Best places to find this species in Montana are in the southeast along sandstone cliff areas, such as the Rims around Billings or cliffs in the Bighorn Canyon.”
“The species is nocturnal, but may enter warm sheltered places in the cold days of fall to hibernate.”
Plains Hog-nosed Snake - Heterodon nasicus. Montana Natural Heritage Program (Montana State Library) with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks: Montana Field Guide. archived copy, captured February 8, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.Quoted passages (1)
“The Western Hog-nosed Snake contains slightly toxic saliva secretions, which have caused mild envenomations in some humans”
Hobo Spiders. Montana State University Extension. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.Quoted passages (1)
“There is no conclusive evidence that hobo spider venom causes necrosis in humans”
Venomous Spiders at Work. CDC / NIOSH. archived copy, captured October 6, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.Quoted passages (1)
“Venomous spiders found in the United States include the black widow and the brown recluse.”
Urban Spiders of Montana. Montana State University Extension. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.Quoted passages (3)
“It is the only spider, to date, of medical importance in Montana.”
“To date, no brown recluse spiders have been positively identified by trained arachnologists or entomologists in Montana.”
“Hobo spiders enter homes starting in August and will continue through November.”
Black Widows in Montana. Montana State University Extension. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.Quoted passages (1)
“The western black widow, Latrodectus hesperus, is present throughout Montana.”
Bears in Montana. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. archived copy, captured June 18, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.Quoted passages (1)
“…grizzly bears reside mostly in western Montana but are increasingly roaming into areas where they have not occupied for decades.”
Wolf Conservation & Management Program. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. archived copy, captured July 15, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.Quoted passages (1)
“Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks obtained full authority to manage wolves throughout the state”
Wild Boar - Sus scrofa. Montana Natural Heritage Program (Montana State Library) with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks: Montana Field Guide. archived copy, captured May 19, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.Quoted passages (1)
“The species has not yet been detected in Montana. To-date detections of wild pigs have been determined to be escaped domestic swine and have been recaptured and returned to owners. However, Wild Boar are present in Saskatchewan so there is potential for the species to invade the state.”
Tickborne Illnesses. Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. archived copy, captured May 18, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.Quoted passages (2)
“Most common tickborne illness in Montana residents even though all cases acquired disease out of state.”
“Ticks are most active from April through July, but Montanans are most likely to encounter ticks in May.”
Poison Control and Prevention. Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. archived copy, captured August 14, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.Quoted passages (1)
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