Category Archives: News

Glacier Park’s future under discussion

Environmental Issues, News, , , ,

Glacier Park officials face several challenges over the next few years . . .

As park officials described it, with both optimism and concern, preserving and protecting the Crown of the Continent is a constant effort.

Aquatic invasive species continue to threaten Glacier National Park. Federal funding is drying up nationwide while lawmakers grapple over a transportation bill. As the top attraction in the state, the park’s escalating popularity is beginning to overwhelm resources and trails.

“What does this mean for the future of Glacier National Park?” Deputy Superintendent Kym Hall asked recently. “How do we maintain that quality visitor experience? Because I assume that’s what people come here for. It’s the Glacier experience, and it’s a unique experience.”

Continue reading . . .

Yellowstone regional grizzly bear population on the upswing

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The Missoulian reports that the grizzly population centered on Yellowstone Park appears to be doing well.  The article also discusses the Cabinet-Yaak Grizzly Bear Project in this corner of Montana . . .

The grizzly bear population around Yellowstone National Park appears to be stable and growing, according to experts in Wyoming.

A story in the Casper Star-Tribune reports that an estimated 608 grizzlies live in the Yellowstone ecosystem, an increase over last year’s estimated population of 593.

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Coalition files suit against Wyoming wolf management plan

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More legal woes for Wyoming’s wolf management plan . . .

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service never should have accepted a wolf-management plan that allows the state of Wyoming to classify the animals as predators that may be shot on sight, environmental groups said in a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday in Washington, D.C.

A coalition of groups asked a federal judge to force the Fish and Wildlife Service to rescind its transfer of wolf management authority to Wyoming and protect them once again under the federal Endangered Species Act.

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Glacier Institute wins $20K for alternate energy curriculum at Big Creek

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The Glacier Institute won a nice grant to buy equipment and develop an alternate energy curriculum at their Big Creek education center . . .

A month-long online voting contest among nonprofits in all 50 states has earned the Glacier Institute a $20,000 grant for its Outdoor Education Center located on the North Fork of the Flathead.

The local nonprofit was selected in September as Montana’s lone finalist in the Tom’s of Maine “50 States for Good” program, which helps support a suite of outdoor-oriented community projects nationwide.

The award, announced Thursday, will fund the Glacier Institute’s brand new alternative energy curriculum, which teaches students how to preserve and better use Montana’s natural resources.

Continue reading . . .

Talk on bats in Glacier Park this Saturday

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This looks interesting, even if you are not exactly a bat aficionado . . .

Montana House and the Glacier National Park Fund will co-host a free and public presentation by Glacier National Park wildlife biologist Lisa Bate on “What’s So Important About Bats?” at Montana House, in Apgar Village, on Saturday, Nov. 10, at 4 p.m. Bate will discuss current findings of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Bat Inventory and Monitoring Project that started in 2011. Reservations required. Call 888-5393. There will be an open house after presentation.

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Larry Wilson: Racking up the bear encounters

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Larry talks about the start of hunting season and some recent bear encounters . . .

In my neighborhood, Trail Creek, the early snow translated to hunter success. Although I have yet to get my winter’s meat, my close neighbors have harvested two bull elk and at least four whitetail bucks.

I don’t know whether other North Fork neighborhoods have been as successful, but apparently not. I accompanied a neighbor to town with his elk last Sunday, and R.J. at the checking station said it was the first elk he’d seen, and he’d checked only two deer in the first two weekends of the hunting season. The checking station is only open on weekends, so animals taken out during the week are not recorded.

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Larry Wilson: Group meets on Flathead National Forest Plan

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Larry reports on a recent meeting of folks interested in the upcoming revision of the Flathead Forest Plan . . .

Updating the Flathead National Forest Plan is almost as much of a controversy as what to do with the North Fork Road. Same thing with the passage of a Montana wilderness bill.

Apparently the Forest Service is going to try again to create a new, updated Forest Plan. According to Flathead Forest supervisor Chip Weber, the Forest is taking preliminary steps, and the process will probably gear up for action in mid-2013.

At least three environmental groups with a big interest in the Whitefish Range have decided to put together a diverse collaborative group to try and influence what happens in the Whitefish Range. The group includes North Fork residents — all three presidents of North Fork organizations plus a few others, Whitefish Mountain Resort representatives, logging interests and a couple of recreationists. Also present for the first meeting were two representatives from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. The Kootenai people have strong historical ties to the upper North Fork.

After a two-hour meeting moderated by former Montana Secretary of State Bob Brown, the group decided it was worth meeting again to explore reaching some agreement that would aid the Forest in writing a new plan.

Continue reading . . .

Montana’s wolverine trapping season heads to court

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The Flathead Beacon has an excellent article on the wolverine trapping issue, including a few words from the always-pithy Doug Chadwick. Recommended reading . . . . . .

While wolverines’ protected status under the Endangered Species Act remains in limbo, Montana’s trapping season is quickly approaching and a coalition of conservation groups is trying to stop trappers from harvesting any wolverines in the state until the species rebounds to a stable population.

Continue reading . . .

Flathead Forest Friday breakfast at the Nite Owl, Friday, Nov 16

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We got a  note today from Wade Muehlhof, Public Affairs Officer for the Flathead National Forest, announcing a “Flathead Forest Friday” breakfast at the Nite Owl in Columbia Falls on Friday, November 16. The idea is to let folks know what is going on in the district and to respond to questions and comments. It sounds like they are planning to make this a regular, every two months event. Here’s the official notice  . . .

Please help spread the word in the North Fork!

Come meet and greet the new Hungry Horse/Glacier View District Ranger Rob Davies at the November Flathead Forest Friday breakfast on Friday, November 16, 2012 from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at the Nite Owl on Highway 2 in Columbia Falls.

In addition to Ranger Davies, Spotted Bear District Ranger Deb Mucklow will be available for information and questions.  Deb will provide an overview of this summer’s work on the Spotted Bear district and the fires in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, but mostly we want to hear your questions and find out what is on your mind.

The Flathead National Forest will coordinate a no-host breakfast meeting every-other month with the goal of sharing good food, great company, and a little information about what’s happening on our National Forest.

I hope you will join Rangers Davies and Mucklow for our November Flathead Forest Friday breakfast at the Nite Owl.  If you plan to attend or have any questions, please notify Public Affairs Officer Wade Muehlhof at ewmuehlhof@fs.fed.us or (406) 758-5252 by November 14.

(By the way, I’m pretty sure “no-host breakfast” means everyone pays for their own meal.)

First anniversary of Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act

Environmental Issues, News, ,

Our friends on the other side of the Divide, the Coalition to Protect the Rocky Mountain Front, point out that we’ve just passed the first anniversary of the introduction of the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act. The Front is a vital link in the larger Crown of the Continent ecosystem, of which the North Fork is a part.

They suggest this would be a good time to send Senator Max Baucus a note thanking him for his efforts so far. For more information or ideas on points you may want to bring up in your email go to http://www.savethefront.org/thank_max.html.

Send emails to Senator Baucus at http://baucus.senate.gov/?p=contact.