All posts by nfpa

“Newcomer” recalls North Fork historical highlights

Commentary, History,

Patti Hart, editor of the NFNews site, ably standing in for Larry Wilson this week, adds a little context to the North Fork experience . . .

I’m new to the North Fork. Although I’ve been living on the North Fork for more than 11 years and have actually spent several winters here, there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that I’m a newcomer.

That’s not to say that I’ve not learned a lot since arriving. I now know that wimpy city tires are a guaranteed way of getting a flat tire on the North Fork road, that locally-sourced game is the best meat in the world, that hummingbird feeders attract grizzly bears, and that diesel will fail to do its duty at 40 below.

I still have a lot to learn, however. For example, I don’t know the best method for getting rid of pests like ground squirrels and noxious weeds. And I still don’t understand how 20 or so otherwise rational adults can stand around at a party and discuss the relative merits of headlamps for an hour. As I said, still a lot to learn.

Continue reading . . .

Feds, Wyoming announce plan to delist wolves

Environmental Issues, News, , ,

From the Missoulian . . .

Wyoming ranchers and hunters fed up with wolves attacking livestock and other wildlife would be able to shoot the predators on sight in most of the state under a tentative agreement state and federal officials announced Wednesday.

Gov. Matt Mead and U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said they’ve come to terms over how to end federal protections for gray wolves in Wyoming – the last state in the Northern Rockies where the animals remain under federal management.

Continue reading . . .

Federal judge upholds delisting of wolves in Montana and Idaho

Environmental Issues, News, , , , ,

From the Missoulian . . .

Strongly disagreeing with his own decision, U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy on Wednesday upheld a congressional rider removing gray wolves from Endangered Species Act protection.

Barring a successful appeal, the decision means wolves are delisted in Montana and Idaho, and those states may go ahead with their scheduled wolf hunting seasons this fall.

Continue reading . . .

Related story: Groups to appeal wolf ruling to 9th Circuit

Four-day trip explores Glacier National Park

News, , ,

This item from the Daily Inter Lake looks pretty interesting . . .

Registration is open for “Discovery in the Crown of the Continent: A Glacier National Park Experience,” a four-day excursion Sept. 23-26.

Participants will be guided to remote locations within the park to study wildlife habitat, Native American history, climate change, forest fires and physical geography.

The excursion will be spent at two locations in Glacier National Park: the forests of the McDonald Valley and the North Fork of the Flathead River.

Continue reading . . .

Larry Wilson: Auction at Sondreson Hall a big success

Commentary, News, , ,

This week, Larry reports on last weekend’s auction at Sondreson Hall and previews some of the other activities scheduled for the next few weeks . . .

The auction at Sondreson Hall last weekend had more than one goal. First was to revive an old tradition. Second was to provide a community experience by hosting a community-wide activity. Finally, there was a desire to raise some money to fund the North Fork Landowners Association’s History Committee.

That committee has expressed interest in doing oral histories of long-time North Fork residents and redigitizing the 78 rpm records that have been the basis for years of square dancing at Sondreson Hall. Maybe some funds could be used for a new sound system as well?

All these goals were met. The community responded with donations which covered every interest…

Continue reading . . .

Amendment removing gray wolves from Endangered Species Act protection faces court challenge

Environmental Issues, News, ,

From today’s Missoulian . . .

The congressional rider removing gray wolves from Endangered Species Act protection faces a court challenge in Missoula on Tuesday.

The Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Clearwater and WildEarth Guardians together claim Congress violated the U.S. Constitution’s separation of powers doctrine when it ordered the wolf delisted and blocked future court review of that decision.

In response, attorneys for Interior Secretary Ken Salazar say Congress has frequently rewritten laws to get around court rulings, and courts have endorsed the practice.

Continue reading . . .

Flathead Lake Biological Station holds open house Aug. 2

News, ,

The University of Montana’s Flathead Lake Biological Station is holding an open house on Tuesday, August 2, from 1 to 5 p.m. The open house includes several hands-on activities, demonstration boat trips on the Jessie B and a number of new research displays, including one on “North Fork Conservation.” See their flyer or check out their web site for more details.

Headwaters Montana looking for volunteers to help “complete the park”

Environmental Issues, News, , ,

From a newsletter sent out yesterday by Headwaters Montana . . .

We need your help.  Do you have just one day this summer to spend at spectacular Logan Pass to help complete the world’s first Peace Park: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park?

Last summer Headwaters Montana sponsored volunteers at Logan Pass in Glacier National Park to collect signed post cards from visitors who support doubling the size of Waterton Lakes National Park into the Flathead Valley in British Columbia (see map here).  Volunteers collected the names of over 3,000 supporters last summer alone. The campaign to ‘Complete the Park’ and ‘Protect the Flathead’ now has well over 10,000 visible and vocal supporters.

Each supporter, like you, adds to the mounting inevitability of expanding Waterton Park.  And while we already enjoy a super majority of supporters in south-east British Columbia and across the international boundary in Montana, we need to continue to build support to push this effort over the finish line.

We can achieve a breakthrough in the next year with your help.

Continue reading Headwaters Montana looking for volunteers to help “complete the park” →

In a weed stomping mood? Now’s the time

Environmental Issues, News, , , ,

If you are concerned about invasive plant species — noxious weeds — there are plenty of opportunities to do something about it within the next few weeks.

The North Fork Landowners’ Association has two “weed roundup” events scheduled. The first, on Tuesday, July 26, will concentrate on the area from the border to Ford Station; the second, Friday, August 19, will work from Ford to Polebridge. See the NFLA online calendar for details.

Glacier Park is also kicking off their second annual Noxious Weed Blitz on Thursday, July 28th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the West Glacier Community Building. You get training on weed identification, surveying and mapping. You also get a free lunch out of the deal. Here’s the core part of the press release announcing the event:

Participants will spend the morning learning how to identify five targeted invasive plant species. After lunch attendants will learn how to conduct invasive plant surveys and map the locations of invasive plants using GPS units. Attending the Blitz will give you the option to continue as a citizen scientist weed warrior during future hikes. The event is free and open to all ages. Lunch will be provided for those who sign up for the event. Please bring gloves for hand pulling weeds, footwear for hiking, and drinking water. To sign up or to find out about other invasive plant opportunities, please contact the Crown of the Continent Research Learning Center at (406) 888-7986 or glac_citizen_science@nps.gov.

Read the full press release for more details.