Category Archives: News

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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Report discusses future climate change impact on native trout

Environmental Issues, News, , ,

A just-released report discusses the impact of climate change on Rocky Mountain trout species . . .

A new research paper published in Fisheries magazine explores how a warming climate is affecting trout streams in the Flathead River basin and throughout the Rocky Mountains, and urges quick action if native trout populations are to persist in diminishing cold-water habitats.

The report examines the climate histories of five river basins in the Rocky Mountains, including the Flathead River, which is home to robust populations of native bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout. In every case, stream characteristics have been adversely affected by warming trends, which have led to higher stream temperatures and habitat fragmentation.

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Montana shuts down wolf hunting & trapping near Yellowstone

Environmental Issues, News, , ,

As anticipated, Montana officials shut down wolf hunting and trapping in areas close to Yellowstone National Park . . .

Montana wildlife commissioners closed down the state’s gray wolf season in some areas north of Yellowstone National Park on Monday, in response to a spate of recent shootings of animals that had been collared for scientific research.

The move shuts down hunting and trapping in areas to the east and west of the town of Gardiner, just days before trapping season was set to begin.

But wildlife commissioners did not yield to pressure from wildlife advocates to create a permanent and more extensive buffer around the park.

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Montana may restrict wolf trapping near Yellowstone

Environmental Issues, News, , ,

Montana is considering limits on wolf trapping near Yellowstone National Park . . .

Restrictions on gray wolf harvests around Yellowstone National Park are under consideration as the state prepares to kick off its inaugural wolf trapping season Dec. 15…

Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commissioner Shane Colton says closing some areas to trapping or setting strict quotas will be on the table during a Monday commission meeting.

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Work on national wildland fire strategy winding up

Environmental Issues, Fire Information and Status, News, , , , ,

Work on the “National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy” is in its final stages, with the public comment period starting December 15. This will likely have a significant impact on wildfire management and generate quite a bit of controversy. The Missolian has an excellent report, with links to supporting documents. . . .

Wildfires and weather share a common problem: We all talk about them, but what can we do about them?

The federal government hopes to answer the wildfire question with a three-year strategy session that’s wrapping up this month. But there’s no guarantee the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy will save an acre of forest. In fact, it might force the nation to decide how much it’s willing to let burn.

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Reference: “National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy” page at forestsandrangelands.gov.

Snowy owls are back

Environmental Issues, News,

It looks like Northern Montana is going to see quite a few snowy owls again this year . . .

The large white bird with black markings on its feathers, perched on a fence post in northern Montana, scanned a snow-covered wheat field as if its head were on a swivel.

Arctic snowy owls, like the young female spotted on the plains north of Rudyard in Hill County last week, are eye-catching with brilliant white coats and 5-foot wing spans. They are turning heads again in some locations in the northwest United States this year, including western and north-central Montana.

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Last 50 years good for Montana wildlife

Environmental Issues, News, , , ,

Here’s a rather upbeat look at species recovery efforts across Montana . . .

Montanans are living in wild times.

For proof, just look at the big picture. There are elk, bison and bighorn sheep grazing in the prairie regions of Eastern Montana where they had previously been exterminated. Large predators like grizzly bears, mountain lions and gray wolves prowl the western forests of the state after declining to record lows.

In the state’s rivers, Yellowstone and westslope cutthroat trout, as well as endangered pallid sturgeon, are being planted to enhance their declining populations. Even in towns and cities wildlife are resurging as geese crowd golf course ponds, mule deer nibble on resident’s shrubbery and ducks, rabbits and Merriam’s turkeys commonly strut across manicured lawns.

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Aquatic invasive species could become the “new knapweed”

Environmental Issues, News, , , , ,

There’s an interesting guest piece at the Flathead Beacon today discussing the threats to Montana from various aquatic invasive species . . .

Of the many challenges facing Montana’s lakes and streams, perhaps the most pressing but controllable is the threat posed by aquatic invasive species, or AIS. Aquatic invasives include non-native plants, mussels, pathogens and fish that threaten environmental, commercial, and recreational resources.

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