Forensic hair analysis comes to bear research . . .
U.S. and Canadian researchers have found they can get a good idea of a grizzly bear’s diet over several months by looking at a single hair. The technique, which measures residues of trace metals, can be a major tool in determining if the threatened animals are getting enough of the right foods to eat.
The technique can also help determine how much mercury bears are ingesting. A study published last year by many of the same researchers found that two out of three grizzlies sampled in coastal British Columbia had mercury levels exceeding a neurochemical effect threshold proposed for polar bears.
“You can use the technology for both applications,” said Marie Noël, lead author of both the mercury study and a more recent study, published in Science of the Total Environment, on how the technique works. “You can see how much mercury they’re getting but also estimate how much salmon they’re eating.”
Debo Powers (the new NFPA President, by the way) wrote the following report on last Saturday’s NFPA annual meeting. Interspersed with her article are several pictures of the event submitted by myself and Debo. If you weren’t there …well, you should have been. Everyone had a good time.
On Saturday night, John Frederick stepped down as President of the North Fork Preservation Association (NFPA) after more than three decades of leadership in this environmental organization which was founded in 1982. Following a potluck supper, a crown which said “North Fork Hero” was placed on John’s head. The crowd of around 50 people listened while various NFPA members spoke about John’s contributions to the North Fork, told stories about John, and read email appreciations from other members who could not attend. John was also given a plaque by the NFPA.
John has been an “environmental warrior” on many issues that have threatened the North Fork in the past three decades. One of his major feats was buying ten shares of Rio Algom (a Canadian mining company) stock and traveling six times to stockholder meetings in Toronto to speak in opposition to the proposal to build a coal mine north of the border that would threaten the water quality of the North Fork of the Flathead River. That coal mine was never built. This was one of the many stories told about John’s activism.
John suffers through lots of people saying nice things about himFrank Vitale says his pieceJohn receives his plaque
After John’s “appreciation fest,” there was a short NFPA meeting in which officers and board members were elected. The new officers are: Debo Powers (President), Randy Kenyon (Vice President), Suzanne Daniell (Secretary), and Kelly Edwards (Treasurer). Annemarie Harrod and Steve Gniadek were re-elected to the board and John Frederick will remain on the board as the Past President. Those who will remain on the board for another year are Frank Vitale, Cameron Naficy, Alan McNeil, and Walter Roberts.
Every year following the annual NFPA meeting, there is an informative speaker who is invited to talk about a topic of local interest. This presentation is open to the entire North Fork community, so others began to arrive after the meeting. The NFPA speaker this year was Daniel Stiffarm, a Kootenai tribal member who is the acting director of the Kootenai Cultural Committee on the Flathead Reservation. He spoke about Kootenai history, culture, and language. Daniel comes regularly to the North Fork which was part of the Kootenai Territory that was used for hunting and vision quests. North Forkers learned much about Kootenai language and traditions including the Kootenai names of many familiar mountains in the North Fork. Daniel was asked many questions which he graciously answered.
Daniel Stiffarm giving his presentationDaniel Stiffarm drew a big crowd
Montana Land Reliance is sponsoring a spotted knapweed biocontrol workshop at the Flathead Valley Community College Arts and Technology Building on August 21 from 1-6 pm. Please register in advance. Contact Mark at 406-837-2178 or mark@mtlandreliance.org.
See the following poster for details . . .
MLR Spotted Knapweed Biocontrol Workshop Aug 21 2015
Glacier National Park News Release July 26, 2015 5:00 p.m.
For immediate release: We apologize for conflicting information earlier today.
Fire officials have assessed current fire behavior and suppression activity in the Reynolds Creek Fire and announced that the St. Mary Visitor Center at the east entrance to Glacier National Park can reopen on Monday July 27. Hours are from 8 am to 6 pm.
The Going-to-the-Sun Road will remain closed from the St. Mary Visitor Center to Big Bend on the west side of the Divide, a distance of 18 miles. The St. Mary Campground, the Rising Sun Motor Inn, the Rising Sun Campground and Logan Pass are not yet open to the public.
Another day of steady progress against the Reynolds Creek Fire in Glacier National Park . . .
Evacuation levels in Glacier National Park are being downgraded as the weather improves and fire crews corral sections of the Reynolds Creek Fire.
Officials with the incident did not report any new growth of the fire on Sunday morning. The blaze, which is burning along the north shore of St. Mary Lake in rocky, rugged terrain, remains listed at 3,158 acres. It is 20 percent contained.
Recent rains have subdued the fire, but it still possesses potential for activity if drier weather conditions return, according to fire officials. Forecasters have said a cold, wet weather system would hit the region Sunday and Monday with possible snow in the higher elevations of Glacier Park.
Reynolds Creek Fire – Smoke Plume Above St. Mary Lake, July 25, 2015
With more than 450 people battling the blaze, crews continue their steady progress against the Reynolds Creek Fire. The biggest concern is forecast high winds . . .
There was little change overnight in the Reynolds Creek Fire in Glacier Park, as an elite team of firefighters continued to be aided by weather conditions.
The fire, which started on Tuesday, is currently listed as approximately 3,166 acres, according to a press release issued this morning. More than 450 firefighters and support crew members are assigned to the fire, which has been slowed by cool temperatures and rising humidity.
Helicopters were kept engaged throughout the day Friday, assisting crews on the ground by dropping water on the head of the fire at the northeast perimeter.
This evening, July 25, the annual meeting of the North Fork Preservation Association will be held at Sondreson Community Hall on the North Fork Road at Whale Creek.
At 7:30 pm Daniel Stiffarm of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, will speak on topics relating to Kootenai history. It should be a very engaging presentation.
The 7:30 pm program is preceded by a potluck dinner starting at 5pm and election of officers at 6:45 pm. Everyone is invited
Montana state and federal political leaders are getting worried about the possible expiration of the Land and Water Conservation Fund . . .
Montana’s top political officials are all declaring support for the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund as it nears a possible expiration in September.
Both Republican U.S. Sen. Steve Daines and Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester released announcements this week about the program’s reauthorization language in the Senate’s Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015. That bill is set for committee markup next week.
Also this week, Gov. Steve Bullock wrote the entire congressional delegation with a plea to save the 50-year-old program.
Reynolds Creek Fire – Morning Briefing at Incident Command Post
The Daily Inter Lake posted an excellent report on the progress being made by the Type I crew now in place to fight the Reynolds Creek Fire.
Highlights: There are 454 people and a lot of equipment, including some very big helicopters, involved in the effort. The fire is 10% contained, with the emphasis on safety, structure protection and keeping the fire from spotting beyond its current perimeter. The area of the active fire has been reduced to a little more than 3,000 acres . . .
The Reynolds Creek Fire at Glacier National Park is far from under control, but a reduction in total fire size, containment of 10 percent of its perimeter and an expected change in weather are providing a glimmer of hope to fire management officials.
It’s the only wildfire in the country currently being fought by an elite Type I Incident Management Team. Incident commander Greg Poncin, of Kalispell, said Friday that firefighters had brought the fire’s total area to slightly more than 3,000 acres, although the total burned acreage is significantly larger.
He said the primary challenges for his team are the rugged terrain and long-burning, heavy fuels, although the near-continuous daytime winds also haven’t made his job any easier.
The Reynolds Creek Fire in Glacier National Park is now up to 5,000 acres (maybe — there’s some debate), a Type I team is now in-place to fight the blaze and Sunday may provide some helpful weather . . .
The Reynolds Creek Fire in Glacier National Park grew another 1,000 acres on Thursday, but there may be favorable weather on the horizon this weekend.
The fire is burning from Reynolds Creek east to Two Dog Flats, about 3 miles from the Park’s eastern boundary.
The National Weather Service is predicting a widespread rain event Sunday evening with snow levels dropping to 8,000 feet over the Park and a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms.
