Climate and Biota of Fort Belknap

This page was written by Erin Klauk as part of the DLESE Community Services Project: Integrating Research in Education.

The total amount of annual precipitation on the Fort Belknap Nation varies from 9 to 10 inches in the plains to 17 inches in the mountains. Temperature can range from -50^oF in the winter to over 100^oF during the summer months of July and early August. The relative low humidity tends to make sub-zero and high temperatures more tolerable. The frost-free growing season is from 119 to 131 days (Fort Belknap Indian Community: Community Environmental Profile (more info) ). Similar to most of north-central Montana, Fort Belknap is subject to severe weather extremes, with hot, dry summers and harsh winters (Fort Belknap Indian Community of Montana (more info) ). For more information about the climate of this area, click here (more info) .

Black-Footed Ferret. Details

Fort Belknap is located in the Great Plains region which encompasses the nation's largest grassland biome, producing nearly a quarter of the nation's agricultural crops and livestock. Wildlife management is important to the tribal members. The Tribe maintains its own buffalo herd, and has abundant mammals including deer, pronghorn, big horn sheep, elk, and the endangered black-footed ferret. Birds include golden eagles, pheasant, sharp-tail grouse, sage grouse. Reptiles included rattlesnakes, Fort Belknap Indian Community: Community Environmental Profile (more info) ).