All posts by nfpa

Wolf management pioneer Carolyn Sime leaving Montana FWP

July 23, 2011Environmental Issues, NewsCarolyn Sime, Montana FWP, wolf managementnfpa

From yesterday’s Missoulian . . .

Carolyn Sime, a pioneer in wolf management in Montana, is leaving her job with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks in order to pursue a law degree.

“After 10 years of late-night phone calls, ranch meetings and 20 years of game check stations, I’m ready to try something new,” Sime said this week. “But I leave with some really, really fond memories of the relationships we’ve made and the work toward finding common ground, having open dialogues and civil discussions.”

For more than a decade, Sime was in the epicenter of the wolf management controversy…

Continue reading . . .

60 years ago: “Oil boom” in the North Fork

July 20, 2011HistoryCanadian Flathead, North Fork Flathead, oil exploration, Sage Creeknfpa

The Hungry Horse News has a short article on all the excitement 60 years ago surrounding oil exploration efforts in the North Fork just over the line in Canada at Sage Creek . . .

Large headlines in August 1951 declared oil drilling would start in the North Fork. This was exciting news with hopes for commercial quantities, new road punched through to the rest of Canada, economic values on the undeveloped valley between primitive mountain areas.

It was reported the oil drilling venture culminated nearly 50 years of drilling by stock supported companies. Drilling was for Petroleum Oil Co., which had a number of producing wells in Alberta.

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Larry Wilson: North Fork threat level still secret

July 20, 2011Commentary, Newsborder patrol, Flathead County, Larry Wilson, road maintenance, U.S. Forest Service, weedsnfpa

In this week’s column, Larry Wilson covers a broad range of topics, including the Border Patrol’s seemingly excessive secrecy about their operations . . .

It has been another action-packed, fun-filled week on the North Fork, with community service, educational, informative and just plain fun social events. The biggest gathering was for the interlocal meeting, which I would call informative and educational.

For several years, the Border Patrol has been asked about the threat level on the North Fork and whether or not arrests have been made here and, if so, for what offense. The Border Patrol’s reply is that they can tell us arrests have been made but they cannot provide details or inform us about the threat level.

I can understand not being informed about the threat level – that might fluctuate from day to day subject to nationwide possibilities. I don’t understand why we cannot be told about North Fork arrests and what the violations were. Even assuming continuing investigation of a particular event, they could give us details of 2008-2010 arrests. We would then know what to watch for and could even aid the Border Patrol with information.

Continue reading . . .

Logan Pass opening worth the wait

July 20, 2011News, Travel ArticlesGoing-to-the-Sun Road, Logan Pass, snow depth, snow plowingnfpa

From today’s Daily Inter Lake . . .

Larry Leger and Sharon Knight, of Louisiana, came up Glacier National Park on a tour of the West. With the Going-to-the-Sun Road closed over Logan Pass at the time, they decided to extend their stay, traveling to Canada and then Yellowstone National Park.

“We delayed our departure by three days,” Leger said. “It was worth it. This is impressive.”

Leger was standing next to the Big Drift on the Going-to-the-Sun Road when it opened to vehicles July 13. A hundred feet of snow towered behind him.

Continue reading . . .

NFPA annual meeting features bylaw changes, well-known speaker

July 20, 2011NewsCharlie Russell, NFPA Annual Meeting, North Fork Preservation Associationnfpa

The North Fork Preservation Association Annual Meeting is coming up soon — Saturday, July 30 — with some significant administrative changes to discuss and a very interesting presentation in the queue.

At the January board of directors meeting it was decided to add two new board member positions (an increase from nine to eleven) as a way of introducing new blood without losing board experience. This is a change to the bylaws requiring a vote of the members at the annual meeting on July 30th. Volunteers wanted. If you would like to be on the board or know someone who should be on the board, please let us know.

This year’s featured speaker is Charlie Russell, the son of famed Albertan outfitter/writer Andy Russell. Charlie, besides writing several earlier books on grizzly bears, is also famous for adopting three orphaned cubs from a Russian zoo that were destined to die because they were outgrowing their cage. These were the first of many orphaned grizzly cubs that Charlie taught to live in the wilds of a very remote part of Russia. He has a book and a DVD, Grizzly Heart, telling about his successes in living with the bears in Russia. The premise he wanted to prove was that grizzly bears are not naturally aggressive and mean, but may become so if their only experience with humans is always aggressiveness and meanness towards them.

The annual meeting will be held on Saturday, July 30 at Sondreson Hall. The potluck starts at 5:00 p.m. with the business meeting and elections beginning at around 6:30 p.m. Charlie’s talk begins at 7:30 p.m.

Wolverine, other animals jump to top of endangered review list with recent agreement

July 17, 2011Environmental Issues, NewsEndangered Species List, wolverinesnfpa

Here’s an excellent article by Rob Chaney posted to today’s Missoulian. Recommended reading . . .

In part because they’re so good at evading biologists, Montana’s elusive wolverines nearly escaped a bureaucratic roundup – and a chance at earning federal Endangered Species Act protection.

Now they’re at the top of the “to-do” list.

Continue reading . . .

Larry Wilson: American flags and automatic bear traps

July 15, 2011Commentary, NewsBear Fair, Fourth of July parade, Larry Wilson, Polebridgenfpa

Larry Wilson covers two big events of the past week: The annual Polebridge Fourth of July Parade and the Bear Fair, both of which were rousing successes . . .

What a great week on the North Fork. The Fourth of July parade was a big success, with some resident-created floats, lots of American flags and handsome kids on unicycles leading the whole thing…

Also this week was the Bear Fair in beautiful downtown Polebridge, which was funded in part by a Forest Service Resource Advisory Committee grant…

Read Larry’s column . . .

Montana sets quota of 220 wolves for Fall hunt

July 14, 2011Environmental Issues, NewsMontana FWP, wolf hunt, wolf management, wolf population, wolf recovery, wolvesnfpa

From an AP article posted in today’s Flathead Beacon . . .

Hunters will be able to shoot as many as 220 gray wolves in Montana this fall under rules adopted Thursday by state wildlife commissioners.

The hunt is scheduled to begin in early September and is expected to reduce the predator’s Montana population by about 25 percent to 425 wolves.

A wolf hunt is also planned in Idaho, where officials have not proposed statewide harvest targets or quotas.

Wolves were taken off the endangered species list in an unprecedented move by Congress this spring in Montana, Idaho and parts of Utah, Washington and Oregon.

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Logan Pass open; Sun Road open; check the trail status

July 14, 2011NewsGoing-to-the-Sun Road, Logan Pass, snow plowingnfpa

From today’s Daily Inter Lake . . .

The Going-to-the-Sun Road opened Wednesday at 7:41 a.m., and the entire 50-mile length of the road is now open to vehicle and bicycle traffic for the summer.

“The opening of the Sun Road was extremely tough this year. We appreciate the hard work of our road crew, employees and the patience of the public,” said Park Superintendent Chas Cartwright.

Continue reading . . .