All posts by nfpa

Feds plan to protect wolverines as threatened species

Environmental Issues, News,

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service just put paid to the Wolverine trapping debate in Montana by announcing that they plan to list the animal as threatened . . .

Montana’s wolverine trapping season effectively ended on Monday after reports that federal officials plan to put the rare predator on the endangered species list.

After putting the trapping season in limbo Nov. 30, a state district judge canceled a planned Jan. 10 hearing on the matter when U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials said they plan to issue a proposed rule giving wolverines “threatened” status under the U.S. Endangered Species Act on Jan. 18.

Although the federal decision must still go through several months of public comment and review, District Judge Jeffrey Sherlock ruled it made little sense to debate a trapping season that was soon to become moot.

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Annual grizzly deaths remain steady

Environmental Issues, News,

Despite increased potential for conflict, grizzly bears deaths remain steady . . .

With improved habitat security on federal lands and continued public education, the number of grizzly bear mortalities in the Northern Rockies was relatively low at 18 in 2012…

“Our mortalities are remaining pretty steady,” said Chris Servheen, grizzly bear recovery coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “I think it’s the ongoing efforts of the bear managers, both the tribal and state guys, dealing with a lot of conflicts and working with a lot of new land owners.”

The work of state bear management specialists such as Tim Manley, who covers the Flathead area, has been significant because of the encroachment of homes into bear habitat and a growing bear population that continues to use those areas.

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Wolf hunting, trapping resumes near Yellowstone Park

Environmental Issues, News,

Less than a month ago, Montana shut down the wolf hunt in a small area near Yellowstone National Park because too many collared, research animals were being taken. Now the hunt is back on . . .

Wolf hunting and trapping can resume near Yellowstone National Park after a Montana judge on Wednesday blocked the state from shutting down the practice over concerns that too many animals used in research were being killed.

The restraining order from Judge Nels Swandal allows hunting and trapping to resume in areas east and west of the town of Gardiner in Park County.

State officials closed the gray wolf season in those areas on Dec. 10…

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Flathead County going after road money for Blacktail and North Fork roads

News, ,

While the North Fork Road rests under its winter pavement, Flathead County is making plans for improvements  .  .  .

Flathead County plans to vie for money from a restructured federal highway program to make improvements to Blacktail and North Fork roads.

The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act — MAP-21 — that was signed into law in July will fund surface transportation programs at more than $105 billion for fiscal years 2013 and 2014. Montana’s slice of the federal pie will be $50 million over the two years.

Blacktail Road in Lakeside, the road leading to Blacktail Mountain Ski Area, is a prime contender…

A second proposed project is conducting an engineering analysis and making improvements to the stretch of the North Fork Road north of Polebridge in the Wurtz Slump area…

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North Fork mail delivery a challenging task

News, ,

The challenges of delivering mail on the North Fork got some recognition from the Flathead Beacon today . . .

The United States Postal Service estimates it will deliver 18 billion cards, letters and packages this holiday season. A few of those parcels will pass through the hands of Karin Craver.

Twice a week, Craver, 38, drives 130 miles up and down the North Fork Road, delivering mail to the hearty souls that call the remote area home. In these parts, holiday joy doesn’t come in a red sleigh, but rather a road- and weather-beaten Mitsubishi Montero.

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Chas Cartwright’s tenure as ‘temporary guardian’ of Glacier Park nears its close

News, ,

Chas Cartwright tenure as Glacier Park’s Superintendent nears its close . . .

It was by organic and geologic fortuity that the towering mountains of Glacier National Park were hewn during the last ice age, and without regard for the legacy bestowed on its millions of annual visitors, or the suite of wildlife its pristine ecosystem supports.

As Chas Cartwright’s decades-long career in public service draws to a close with him at the helm of Glacier National Park, he isn’t much concerned with the notion of legacy, either.

Cartwright set out as Glacier’s 21st superintendent not to carve out a monument to himself, but to serve as the park’s temporary guardian…

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Wolf trapping season opens, with protests

Environmental Issues, News,

Montana’s first wolf trapping season got off to a low-profile start, but not without a public protest . . .

Montana’s 2012 wolf hunt shifted to a new gear on Saturday as trapping became a legal way to take the predators.

However, state Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials don’t expect a rush of activity over the weekend. Trappers could not place traps before Saturday, and may leave them unchecked for up to 48 hours. They must report any kills within 24 hours.

Experienced trapper Mike Day of Missoula said he didn’t expect much success at all from the state’s new trapping program. Between the unhelpful weather and the difficult rules, he doubted the wolves had much to fear.

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Bison once roamed Glacier Park’s high country

History, News,

Here’s an interesting tidbit about Glacier Park’s — and perhaps the North Fork’s — historic fauna . . .

A project to study cultural and biological resources near ice patches in Glacier National Park has revealed an interesting find in the Park’s high country — bison.

Often thought of as a plains animal, researchers recently found bison remains at an elevation of 8,000 feet in the Park’s St. Mary drainage.

Researchers say the bison remains were not left by hunters — it’s a nearly complete skeleton. Bison may have their home on the range, but that homeland extended into the mountains, it turns out.

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Interagency committee wants full picture of grizzly bear diet before delisting

Environmental Issues, News, ,

The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee plans a close look at the grizzly bear’s overall diet . . .

To ensure they’ve got the best look at how well grizzly bears can endure in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, researchers want a full picture of the predators’ diet before another attempt to remove them from endangered species protection.

The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee hopes to convince the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals it was justified in delisting the big bears from the federal Endangered Species Act…

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Kym Hall to serve as Glacier Park’s interim superintendent

News, ,

As expected, Glacier Park’s second in command will be the interim superintendent . . .

Glacier National Park’s No. 2 official will take over for retiring Superintendent Chas Cartwright at the end of the year with an eye toward filling the position permanently.

Kym Hall will become the park’s interim superintendent when Cartwright steps down Dec. 28, Cartwright said Friday.

The National Park Service plans to name a permanent replacement for Cartwright by late spring 2013, and Hall said she will throw her name into the ring.

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