May 02 2012
This recently released study on westslope cutthroat trout migration tracking is pretty interesting stuff . . . Like a tree’s concentric growth rings, a small bone within a fish’s ear reveals a history of its growth. And according to a new study of westslope cutthroat trout in the Flathead River system, the bone also contains [...]
May 01 2012
Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks people are out in the field gathering data on deer populations . . . Hunting deer in springtime resembles its fall cousin in everything but the weaponry: Get up before dawn, go far away from other people, creep quietly to avoid scaring the quarry. The only difference is that the [...]
Apr 28 2012
Two sharply contrasting pieces appeared in local papers the last couple of days. The first was a well-written op-ed by George Wuerthner advocating a more rational approach to wolf management and predation control in general. The second was an Associated Press article discussing Wyoming’s plans for a wolf hunt this fall.
Apr 23 2012
The “Crown of the Continent” area in Montana, including the North Fork of the Flathead River, made the list of “Top 5 American Treasures to Protect in 2012″ published on Earth Day by the Center for American Progress . . . The United States is home to some of the most stunning and unique natural [...]
Apr 22 2012
The debate over the Grizzly’s status in the Yellowstone Park area continues . . . Grizzly bears in and around Yellowstone National Park will keep their threatened status for at least the next two to three years, as wildlife officials said Friday they plan to bolster their case that the species has recovered. Federal and [...]
Apr 22 2012
Glacier National Park is a climate change poster child . . . Against the backdrop of a warming world, Glacier National Park and its waning namesakes have for years stood out as one of the most tangible manifestations of climate change. And because the park’s administrative brass consistently marches at the vanguard of research, education [...]
Apr 15 2012
A so-far successful westslope cutthroat trout restoration effort in the South Fork has implications for future projects in other areas . . . A decade-long program to restore Montana’s state fish to a chain of 21 alpine lakes above the South Fork Flathead River drainage is showing good results, a Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks [...]
Apr 15 2012
From a recent post to the Missoulian . . . The white on the ground remains snow instead of trillium petals, but wildflower season approaches. To plan for that, consider an expanded U.S. Forest Service website that features great bloom locations across the nation. Montana has a dozen options, including the Lolo, Bitterroot, Kootenai, Helena, [...]
Apr 13 2012
Following extensive testing, they’re introducing some pretty clever, bear-resistant trash totes on the Flathead Reservation . . . Bill Foust admits it took him a little while to figure out how – with his hands full, anyway – to open the lid on his trash cans. Bears still haven’t mastered it. And that’s a good [...]
Apr 12 2012
In the spring, a wildlife biologist’s thoughts turn to bear studies . . . As a way to monitor the ongoing trend of grizzly bear recovery, wildlife biologists are about to begin capturing grizzlies in western Montana this month for an ongoing population study in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem. Biologists will begin monitoring the [...]
