Category Archives: News

Forest Service wants to snuff out all wildfires this year

Environmental Issues, Fire Information and Status, News, ,

This story centers on Gila National Forest, but discusses a general, if temporary, policy this year: Whenever practical, the U.S. Forest Service is jumping on all fires as soon as they brew up. Why? Because it’s cheaper . . .

If lightning strikes in the New Mexico wilderness and starts a fire, the blaze would normally be little more than a blip on the radar of land managers who have earned a reputation for letting flames burn to keep forested lands from growing into a tangled mess.

This season is different. Now firefighters are trekking deep into the Gila National Forest with trains of equipment-carrying horses and one overriding goal: snuffing out all fires, no matter how small or remote.

The U.S. Forest Service’s decision is temporary. But after years of upholding fire’s natural ability to clean up the landscape, the agency’s about-face has drawn criticism from watchdog groups, some scientists and others who fear the agency might be setting the stage for an even more destructive season next year.

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Larry Wilson: A look at North Fork politics

Commentary, News, ,

Larry talks about two of the main organizations on the North Fork, the North Fork Preservation Association and the North Fork Landowners Association, and their role in the community.

An excerpt . . .

…In my opinion, the NFPA is a relatively moderate environmentalist group. Although I often disagree with them (I oppose expanding Waterton Park or any Whitefish Range wilderness area), I believe they are sincere in their efforts to protect and preserve North Fork values and lifestyle.

On the other hand, I am a strong supporter of the North Fork Improvement Association, which now calls itself the North Fork Landowners Association. I first became a member in 1955 and, except for a few years when I was away from the North Fork, have been a member since then…

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Feds to announce end to wolf protections in Wyoming

Environmental Issues, News, , , ,

The final wolf “delisting rule” for Wyoming will be published the end of this month. Expect lawsuits . . .

The federal government plans to announce an end to protections for wolves in Wyoming later this month.

Spokesmen from some environmental groups say they plan to review the final wolf delisting rule carefully when it’s issued Aug. 31. They say legal challenges are likely over the state’s plan to classify wolves as predators that can be shot on sight in most areas.

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Glacier Park hosts seminar on rare mammals within its boundaries

News, , , ,

There’s an interesting “brown-bag lecture” coming up in Glacier Park . . .

The rare species roaming around Glacier National Park are the topic of the latest “brown-bag lecture” hosted by the Crown of the Continent Research Learning Center.

Dr. Kerry Foresman will discuss species inside the park on Tuesday, Aug. 21 from noon to 1 p.m. at the Community Building in West Glacier…

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Man dies in boating accident on North Fork

News, ,

(UPDATED) According to the Daily Inter Lake, an 80-year-old Kalispell man drowned yesterday afternoon when his one-person pontoon boat flipped over on the North Fork near the Glacier Rim access point. A second individual, who was accompanying the victim in another one-man boat that also capsized, was discovered safe on shore about a half-mile upstream.

See the article in the Daily Inter Lake for further details . . .

“Roundtable on the Crown of the Continent” to be held in Fernie this year

Environmental Issues, News, ,

The NFPA sent representatives to last year’s annual Roundtable on the Crown of the Continent in Polson. By all reports, it was a good experience. This year’s event is scheduled for September 27-28 in Fernie, BC.

The Roundtable has a pretty broad reach, including people, communities and organizations with a wide range of interests. Here’s what they have to say about themselves:

The Crown of the Continent is a remarkable place. Spanning the 49th parallel and anchored by Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, it has been the home of Native Americans and First Nations for thousands of years. Today, the stunning scenery, vast wilderness areas, iconic wildlife, and diverse recreational opportunities attract visitors from throughout the world. These amenities support a ring [of] communities around the Crown. Working landscapes help knit together the natural and cultural fabric of this region.

The Roundtable is an ongoing forum to bring together people who care about this special place . . .

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Wednesday’s storms trigger few new wildfires in western Montana

Fire Information and Status, News, , ,

Lots of lightning Wednesday night, but not much action in western Montana . . .

Wednesday night’s lightning storm didn’t do as much damage as it appeared in western Montana, but eastern Idaho wilderness areas got pounded.

“The Clearwater (Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest) picked up 41 new starts,” said Bitterroot National Forest spokesman Tod McKay. “That’s where a lot of our smoke is coming from today.”

In contrast, U.S. Forest Service land in the Bitterroot Valley only recorded six new fires out of roughly 400 lightning strikes that hit over a five-hour period. Bitterroot crews and a helicopter also assisted Hamilton firefighters with a 200-acre grass fire off Sleeping Child Road that was declared out about midnight Wednesday.

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Aversion therapy for bears

Environmental Issues, News, , , ,

Yesterday, a couple of articles cropped up about teaching bears to avoid humans and their dwellings. The first reports on the Montana-based Wind River Bear Institute and their Karelian bear dog program. The other discusses a training program in a rural district of the Florida panhandle, an area with a substantial black bear population. Two very different areas with similar bear problems.

Here are the links . . .

Aspiring filmmakers turn lenses on Karelian bear dogs for awareness — from the Missoulian

Bear hazing (Or how to chase a bear away and not get hurt) — from The Star, Port St. Joe, Florida

Larry Wilson: Another Californian moves to Montana

Commentary, News,

Larry does a sort of late summer review . . .

As North Forkers and Montanans, we consider ourselves fiercely independent. Also, we don’t think much about how others view us — mostly we just don’t care since we don’t envy folks from more populated areas of the country.

Recently, though, a friend who lives in Santa Barbara, Calif., sent me an article from his local newspaper.

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Section of Glacier’s inside North Fork Road to open

News, , ,

Another stretch of the inside North Fork Road should open by the weekend. Don’t make any heavy bets on the rest of it opening up, though . . .

Roughly six miles of the North Fork Road between the Fish Creek Campground and Camas Creek Bridge is expected to open this weekend, Glacier National Park officials said on Wednesday.

Road crews are currently completing temporary repairs, including grading of the area and laying surface gravel to improve conditions after continuous flooding. The section of the road between Polebridge and Logging Creek opened to vehicle traffic in May.

The road between Camas Creek Bridge and Logging Creek will remain closed due to flooding and road washout.

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