Just 4,000 Owners Now Control Two-thirds Of Montana Land

Who Owns Montana’s Land?

Montana’s wide open spaces are a big part of what makes this state so special, but a new study shows that a lot of our private land is ending up in fewer and fewer hands.

According to research published in Environmental Management, about 4,000 landowners now control roughly two-thirds of Montana’s private land, and that has plenty of people paying attention.

Why Concentrated Land Ownership Matters

Alexander Metcalf, a researcher from the University of Montana, found that a very small group of people and companies own massive chunks of land, often tens of thousands of acres at a time.

The issue that arises is that when ownership is concentrated into so few hands, the decisions made by just one single landowner can have huge implications on wildlife habitats and outdoor spaces.

Thankfully, some of these owners are conservation-focused and are looking out for wildlife under the Big Sky.

Parcels Threaten Wildlife And Public Access

However, the study found that there are plenty of absentee owners or developers, and their choices can limit public access or break up land that used to be wide open.

One other aspect the study revealed is that more land closer to towns and our scenic areas is being split into smaller parcels. This is making it tougher for wildlife to move freely and harder for hunters and hikers to find access to the outdoors.

Keeping Montana "The Last Best Place"

Montana has always taken pride in its outdoor way of life, but as land ownership continues to change, that just brings about more questions regarding wildlife habitat, public access, and how we keep Montana "The Last Best Place".

Sources: Environmental Management, Montana Free Press