Click here for information about the 2025 Wildlife Speaker Series
Welcome to the Ruby Habitat Foundation’s home page. We are a non-profit, working ranch in Southwest Montana dedicated to fulfilling the vision of our founders, Craig and Martha Woodson.
Our mission encourages balance between agriculture and wildlife, and we allow managed access to the ranch for a wide range of activities, from flyfishing to birdwatching (we have identified 136 species on the ranch so far!! Here’s a link to the complete list). Our educational outreach programs include field trips with local school kids (from Kindergarten through College), to Wildlife Speakers and other programs.
2025 promises to be a productive year at Ruby Habitat Foundation. As we all navigate the shifting channels of the new administration, the work on the ground, the work important to the Foundation and conservation will continue unabated.
We have two soil health experiments planned–one will compare the use of an alternative form of fertilizer (alfalfa pellets) to conventional (and expensive) fertilizer, and one will use bio-char (partially burned wood) as a soil additive. These two experiments will take time to implement and then evaluate, but are indicative of Ruby Habitat Foundation’s focus on soil health.
Additionally, we have several educational events planned. Our Wildlife Speaker event will be held on July 31 and the topic is beavers. Torrey Ritter, non-game biologist for Montana’s Fish, Wildlife and Parks, will present some of the current science on these toothy busy-bodies, as well as provide some information about how to live with–not against–beavers. In August, we’ll hose the Montana Counsel of Conservation Elders who will organize a camp for youth during which the young folks will participate in several outdoor activities, the purpose of which is to help instill a lifelong love of nature.
Recognizing that open space and wild spaces are finite, we stand for them and encourage you to get in touch with us to find out how we can help. Whether you visit virtually, or stay in our luxurious Hill House lodging, we are sure Woodson Ranch will provide you with a memorable experience!