The Gallatin Range is home to a greater complement of large mammals than every national park in the Lower 48 states%2C except for Yellowstone%2C Grand Teton and Glacier. While scientists and conservationists have called for their protection for a century%2C they have remained vulnerable%2C especially during the era when they were checkerboarded with private tracts owned by the Northern Pacific Railroad and timber baron Tim Blixseth. Miraculously%2C because the land remains intact%2C so does the wildlife. Many say how much land gets protected is the most important question facing the core of Greater Yellowstone in decades.