Shrubs such as bayberry, honeysuckle, silverberry, buffaloberry, thimbleberry, and chokecherry thrive in moist soil. Common flowers include columbine, monkey flower, mountain hollyberry, and lupine. Mammals come to streams to drink and take advantage of the nearby abundant vegetation that offers food and cover. Moose browse in the willow thickets. River dwelling beavers feed on the willows and burrow into the banks.
River otters feed mostly on fish and use riverbank burrows or old beaver lodges.
Coyotes, bison, and mule deer also come to rivers and streams for water and shelter. Sagebrush grows on dry, porous soils. Much of the valley floor is covered with sagebrush. More than 100 species of native grasses and wildflowers also grow in this dry soil. Bitterbrush, sticky geranium, groundsel, pussytoes, larkspur, buckwheat, stonecrop, balsamroot, Indian Paintbrush, harebells, and gilia are some of the plants found in this area.