All posts by nfpa

Cabinet-Yaak grizzly numbers small, but rising

Environmental Issues, News,

Scientists continue to struggle to establish a good population of grizzly bears in the Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem . . .

Spring has brought bears back into action, and it’s also energized biologists overseeing the remote population of grizzlies in the Cabinet-Yaak mountains of northwest Montana.

“We were in negative territory, but as of this year, after several years of low mortality we’re seeing some improvement,” said Wayne Kasworm, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recovery coordinator in Libby. “Now we have a projected growth rate of 1.4 percent. That’s compared to the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem and Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, where it’s roughly 3 percent.”

While those two huge areas each have close to 1,000 grizzlies, the Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem struggles to stay around 50. It does so with about a quarter of the NCDE’s territory, which stretches from the southern tip of the Rattlesnake Wilderness north of Missoula up to Glacier National Park.

Read more . . .

Celebrating the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act

Environmental Issues, News

Debo Powers has a nice post up at the NF News site regarding a recent celebration near Choteau of the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act . . .

On Saturday, May 23, there was a celebration near Choteau for Congressional passage of the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act.

In the afternoon, about 50 people gathered at the trailhead for Headquarters Pass into the Bob Marshall Wilderness to place a new sign designating the new boundary. Among other things, the Heritage Act created new wilderness areas that have been added to the Bob Marshall Wilderness complex. This is a significant achievement since it is the first addition to Montana wilderness in 31 years. After the sign was raised, Gloria Flora, former Forest Supervisor on the Lewis and Clark Forest, spoke about the importance of protecting wilderness for future generations. Her profound words moved the crowd with her assertion that “the Forest Service stands for the unborn……..of every species.”

Read more at NF News . . .

Community meetings scheduled to share info about Glacier Park

News,

Glacier Park has two community meetings scheduled to share information and gain community feedback. The closer of the two is Wednesday, June 3, 5:30-7 p.m. at the Teakettle Community Hall in Columbia Falls.

Here’s the press release . . .

Glacier National Park is hosting two community meetings to share information about park activities and provide an opportunity for personal dialogue between park leadership and local community members and neighbors. The first meeting will take place Tuesday, June 2 at 4-5:30 p.m. at the St. Mary Visitor Center Auditorium in St. Mary, and a second meeting will be Wednesday, June 3, 5:30-7 p.m. at the Teakettle Community Hall in Columbia Falls.

The format of the meetings will include presentations by Glacier National Park Superintendent Jeff Mow and other members of the park leadership team. Following the presentations, there will be a question and answer period and opportunity for informal conversations.

Topics of presentation and discussion will include rehabilitation of the Going-to-the-Sun Road and related activities, spring plowing and snow removal operations, entrance fee increases, Going-to-the-Sun Road Corridor Management Plan, Many Glacier Hotel 100th Anniversary and projected work activities at the hotel, and National Park Service Centennial.

Community members are encouraged to attend and learn more about what’s happening at the park.

Black bear genetic study expanded to all of North America

News, ,

It’s not always about grizzlies. Sometimes, our much larger population of black bears gets some attention . . .

Last year, researchers examined the genetic diversity of American black bears in Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Now, scientists have expanded the study to include black bears throughout North America and have found a bit more about the genetics of these bears.

“This is the first genomics study of black bears across their range,” said Emily Puckett, one of the researchers, in a news release. “Using advanced nuclear genomics, the team delineated three geographic lineages of bears in the western and eastern regions of North America and in Alaska. After identifying the three lineages, the team delineated them into nine geographically relevant regional clusters to better understand the relationships of populations within each cluster.”

Read more . . .

2015 Citizen Science opportunities at Glacier Park

News, ,

From the official press release . . .

The Crown of the Continent Research Learning Center at Glacier National Park will continue its Citizen Science Program this summer, offering free research and learning opportunities for the public.

The program trains individuals to identify, observe, and record information on mountain goats, bighorn sheep, pikas, aquatic insects, loons, and invasive plants in Glacier National Park. These species have been targeted because of their sensitivity to changes in habitat, human disturbances and, in the case of invasive plants, their threat to native biodiversity. Participants are asked to attend a one-day training session before collecting data for a project.

High Country Citizen Science
Observe mountain goats, bighorn sheep, pikas, and aquatic insects at selected sites to assist with population and distribution estimates. These species are habitat and temperature sensitive and may be affected by climate change. Monitoring takes place June through October. Training Dates: June 12, June 19, or July 2

Common Loon Citizen Science
Gather information on the distribution and reproduction of common loons to understand more about population trends and nesting success. Glacier National Park is home to about 20% of Montana’s breeding Common Loons. Monitoring takes place May through September.
Training Date: May 22, June 18, June 26, or July 9

Invasive Plant Citizen Science
Learn to identify five targeted invasive plants and use GPS units to map their locations while hiking along trails in Glacier National Park. Monitoring takes place June through September. Interested invasive plant citizen science participants can be trained in one of two ways:
1. Complete online training session at http://www.crownscience.org/getinvolved/citizen-science/noxious-weeds.
2. Attend annual weed blitz on Tuesday, July 21. Participants will assist Glacier National Park by pulling targeted weeds.

Additional training sessions for any of the programs may be scheduled based on interest.

 

Since 2005, the Glacier National Park Citizen Science Program has utilized trained citizen scientists to collect baseline population data on species of interest within the park. Training is provided to participants to inform them of threats to native plants and wildlife that may result from human disturbance, climate change, and invasive species. Perhaps most importantly, the Citizen Science Program helps create an informed group of visitors involved in active stewardship of Glacier National Park.

Please contact the Crown of the Continent Research Learning Center at 406-888-7986 to register for training or for more information, or visit http://www.crownscience.org/getinvolved/citizen-science.

Funding and support for the Crown of the Continent Research Learning Center’s Citizen Science Program is provided by the Glacier National Park Conservancy. The Glacier National Park Conservancy, a private non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, is the official non-profit fundraising partner of Glacier National Park by providing support for preservation, education, and research through philanthropy and outreach. Visit http://glacierconservancy.org/ for more information about the Conservancy.

Government releases wildfire strategy aimed at protecting sage grouse

Environmental Issues, News,

The feds have developed a wildfire strategy they hope will help protect sage grouse . . .

A federal wildfire strategy released Tuesday aims to protect the West’s sagebrush country that is home to a struggling bird species and to help prevent the sage grouse from being classified as threatened or endangered later this year.

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell was in Boise to announce the plan making greater sage grouse habitat a priority for fire prevention and response, focusing mainly on the Great Basin region of Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Oregon and California.

The plan comes as the federal government and Western states scramble to implement plans meant to halt the decline of sage grouse populations and habitat. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is under a court order to decide by Sept. 30 whether the sage grouse merits protections from the Endangered Species Act.

Read more . . .

Motorists hauling watercraft must stop at AIS inspection stations

Environmental Issues, News,

Montana really doesn’t want folks importing aquatic invasive species. From the official press release . . .

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials reminded private and commercial boaters yesterday that state law requires all motorists hauling watercraft—from trailers with motorboats or inflatable rafts to canoes and kayaks perched atop cars and pick-up trucks—to stop at inspection stations.

The annual education and enforcement effort, which this year includes multiple chances to win prizes from an array of local sponsors, is to further curb the risk of aquatic invasive species from attaining a foothold in Montana waters.

Seventeen well-marked inspection stations will again be in operation beginning Thursday, May 21 through September at key border crossings, along major highways, and on heavily used water bodies. Motorists who stop will have their equipment checked—and cleaned if needed—and get information on how to enter a raffle for prizes to be awarded throughout the boating season.

Montana law requires private motorists and outfitters and guides hauling watercraft—including motorboats, sailboats, kayaks, canoes, rowboats, rafts, jet skis and even small kick boats popular among some anglers—to always stop at AIS watercraft inspection stations for a brief interview and equipment check. Most inspections take fewer than five minutes but failure to stop could lead to a $135 fine.

Last year, nearly 35,000 watercraft were inspected at Montana’s roadside stations. A total of 54 motorboats and three non-motorized watercrafts were found to have been fouled by zebra mussels and other AIS contaminants and hundreds more contained standing water or noninvasive vegetation.

Read more . . .

Flathead Forest Forest Plan Revision receives more than 19,000 comments

Environmental Issues, News,

Joe Kreuger and his staff at the Flathead National Forest have got their work cut out for them. The proposed Forest Plan triggered a lot of feedback . . .

The Flathead National Forest received over 19,000 public comment submissions for its proposed revision of the forest plan, according to the agency.

Forest officials are still sorting through reams of emails and letters following the May 15 deadline for public comment.

Joe Krueger, project leader and forest planner for the Flathead National Forest, said his team continues to count the number of submissions that were filed and some that were postmarked by last Friday may still be arriving.

Read more . . .

Montana looking at tighter trapping restrictions near Glacier and Yellowstone

Environmental Issues, News, , , , ,

Montana FWP wants to tighten trapping rules near national parks to protect Canada Lynx . . .

Montana wildlife officials are considering stricter regulations in an effort to reduce the chances of Canada lynx being caught in traps set for other animals outside Glacier and Yellowstone national parks.

The plan presented to the state Fish and Wildlife Commission on Thursday is part of a settlement agreement in a lawsuit filed in 2013 by three environmental groups over trapping in the threatened species’ habitat.

Several of the settlement’s statewide restrictions are already in place, but additional changes are needed in special zones near Yellowstone National Park and a wider area outside Glacier National Park in northwestern Montana, Fish, Wildlife and Parks attorney Aimee Fausser said.

Read more . . .

Montana wishes to cut bobcat quotas

Environmental Issues, News,

Montana FWP wants to cut back on the Bobcat take . . .

Montana wildlife officials are considering cutting bobcat quotas across a broad swath of central and northern Montana.

John Vore of Fish, Wildlife and Parks says agency officials have seen a drop in bobcat numbers in those areas. He attributes the decline to a cyclical population shift, but says the agency doesn’t want to exacerbate the drop through hunting and trapping.

Read more . . .