Wildlife of the Bighorn Basin
The Bighorn Basin is a special place. It's beautiful. It's rugged. It's wild.
We are paleontologists, but it isn't just the life of the past that fascinates us. The modern plants and animals of this dry landscape are just as captivating and worthy of our admiration. Many are endangered - threatened by invasive species, habitat decline, or climate change.
Take a few moments to enjoy the life and scenery captured on camera and assembled on this page, and learn more about the amazing wildlife of this special region.
Flora in & Around the Bighorn Basin
Mountain Flora
Photo by D. Crumbling
Photo by D. Crumbling
Photo by D. Crumbling
Alpine Avens
(Geum rossii)
Blanket Flower
(Gaillardia aristata)
Cushion Goldenweed
(Stenotus acaulis)
Bladder Campion
(Silene vulgaris)
Photos by D. Crumbling
Cushion Phlox
(Phlox Pulvinata)
Photos by D. Crumbling
Photo by D. Crumbling
White Campion
(Silene latifolia)
Photo by J. Schein
Showy Fleabane Daisy
(Erigeron speciosus)
Photo by D. Crumbling
Prairie Smoke
(Geum triflorum)
Parry's Lousewort
(Pedicularis parryi)
Photos by D. Crumbling
Meadow Goat's Beard
(Tragopogon dubius)
Non-Native Species
Photos by D. Crumbling
Photo by D. Crumbling
Globeflower
(Trollius laxus)
Photo by D. Crumbling
Fern-leaf Lousewort
(Pedicularis cystopteridifolia)
Photo by J. Schein
Dwarf Clover
(Trifolium nanum)
Fire Weed
(Chamerion angustifolium)
Photos by D. Crumbling & J. Schein
Howell's Pussytoes
(Antennaria howellii)
Photos by D. Crumbling
Photo by D. Crumbling
Lance-leaved Stonecrop
(Sedum lanceolatum)
Photo by J. Schein
Unknown
(Still Researching)
Photo by D. Crumbling
Nutall's Pussytoes
(Antennaria parvifolia)
Rocky Mountain Paintbrush
(Castilleja covilleana)
Photos by D. Crumbling & J. Schein
Sticky Geranium
(Geranium viscosissimum)
Photos by D. Crumbling
Photo by D. Crumbling
White Campion
(Silene latifolia)
Photo by J. Schein
Daisy
(Erigeron sp.)
Darkthroat Shootingstar
(Dodecatheon pulchellum)
Photos by J. Schein
Photo by J. Schein
Common Alplily (L) - Alpine Bluebell (R)
(Gagea serotina - Mertensia alpina)
Image by J. Schein
Clematis Seed Heads
(cf. Clematis sp.)
American Bistort
(Polygonum bistortoides)
Photos by J. Schein
Sticky polemonium or Sky Pilot
(Polemonium viscosum)
Photos by J. Schein
Harebell
(Campanula rotunifolia)
Photos by J. Schein
Long-stalked stitchwort
(Stellaria longipes)
Photos by J. Schein
Basin Flora
Photo by J. Schein
Tufted Evening Primrose
(Oenothera caespitosa)
Image by J. Schein
Unknown
(Still Researching)
Image by J. Schein
Plains PricklyPear Cactus
(Opuntia polycantha)
Photo by J. Schein
Matted or Cushion Cryptantha
(Cryptantha circumscissa)
Image by J. Schein
Buckwheat
(Eriogonum sp.)
Image by J. Schein
Salsify (?)
(Tragopogon dubius)
Image by J. Schein
Shaggy Daisy
(Erigeron pumilus)
Image by J. Schein
Unknown
(Still Researching)
Image by J. Schein
Cryptantha
(Cryptantha glomerate)
Cicada Milkvetch
(Astragalus chamaeleuce)
prince’s plume
(Stanleya pinnata)
Image by J. Schein
