Category Archives: News

Glacier Institute rolls out 2016 winter courses

News,

The Glacier Institute’s tracking course will be in the North Fork again this winter . . .

The Glacier Institute, a public educational leader in the Crown of the Continent, will kick off 2015 with a course Jan. 9 in animal tracking and sign interpretation. A longtime favorite, the course will return to the North Fork region for the second year after some 20 seasons of exploring in West Glacier.

“There’s awesome tracking along the North Fork—aquatic, riparian, and terrestrial species,” said Director of Education Justin Barth. “There’s a lot of action. If they’re really lucky, they could see rare carnivore tracks, maybe wolves or wolverines. Or [tracks from] a grizzly bear out taking a break from his nap.”

Brian Baxter, a wildlife researcher with years of experience tracking and trapping, will lead the field course, as he has for many years. He’ll lead participants along four or so miles of eastern shore of the North Fork, teaching them to observe the evidence of nature.

Read more . . .

‘Twenty-five grizzly bears a year die in Yellowstone Park, but this one had a name’

Environmental Issues, News, ,

Grizzly bear sow with three cubs

Here’s an interesting article that picks up social media’s impact on bear management and runs with it . . .

When a grizzly bear killed a hiker in Yellowstone National Park last year, millions of people took it personally.

“The public response was 100 percent different than two years ago,” said Kerry Gunther, Yellowstone’s bear manager. “Twenty-five grizzly bears a year die in Yellowstone Park, but this one had a name.”

Her name was Blaze, according to the outpouring of outrage on Facebook, Twitter and other social media outlets that appeared within a day of the Aug. 11 incident. Gunther and other park officials still aren’t sure it was that particular, often-photographed sow with two cubs (there were four such females with two cubs in the area). But they are sure their decisions, and all future debate about managing grizzly bears in the Rocky Mountain West, are under a new level of scrutiny.

Read more . . .

Cameras, video give new insights into bear behavior

Environmental Issues, News, , , , ,

Grizzly bear sow with three cubs

Bear bathtubs? Who knew? . . .

It takes a hike over high ridges and numerous toppled lodgepole pine trees to find the small pool of fresh water in Yellowstone National Park.

This is not some out-of-the-way hot springs that adventurous tourists seek out to soak in. Instead, the well-worn trails marked by tracks leading to the site attest to its use as a “bear bathtub.”

The first of these pools was discovered more than a decade ago by Yellowstone bear researchers as they searched for a tracking collar that had fallen off one of the bears they were studying, according to an article in the recently released issue of the journal Yellowstone Science. The signal sent by the collar led them to the small pond at the end of a narrow gully surrounded by forested hills, according to the article’s lead author, Kerry Gunther, Yellowstone’s bear manager.

Read more . . .

‘Wild and Free: Photographs of North American Wildlife’ until Jan 21

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Hockaday Museum of Art in Winter

The Hockaday has a wildlife photography exhibit worth a visit . . .

One of Montana’s most prolific and published photographers will head up an entire day of discussions and stories about his work at the Hockaday Museum of Art in Kalispell.

Donald M. Jones, who lives in Troy, is known nationally and internationally primarily for his work shooting photographs of wildlife, particularly the creatures inhabiting North America. Jones has tallied more than 600 magazine covers as part of his legacy, along with clients like Field and Stream magazine, Time, Outdoor Life, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated, Columbia Sportswear, L.L. Bean, and more.

And now, his photographs have a new life at the Hockaday Museum of Art, where 27 of them are on display in the exhibit, “Wild and Free: Photographs of North American Wildlife,” until Jan. 21.

Read more . . .

Portraits of Great Landscapes presentation by Rick Graetz, Jan. 18

Environmental Issues, News, ,

Here’s a heads-up from NFLA President Randy Kenyon . . .

Grab your calendars!  Author, professor, traveler, photographer and raconteur Rick Graetz will be returning again this winter to the North Fork with his University of Montana class.  The highlight of this year’s visit will be his presentation at Sondreson Hall Monday January 18th at 6:30pm.  Rick’s topic will be portraits of Great Landscapes, including the Himalaya, deserts of the American West, Yellowstone, prairie lands of Montana east of the mountains and a few other selected areas.  If you haven’t ever had the privilege to partake of this experience, be sure you make this one.  His appearances are always highly informative and entertaining. Rick will be bringing a celebration cake and, if you are so inclined, bring along a treat of your own!

Montana, other states urged to set clear goals for wolves

Environmental Issues, News,

Collared Wolf - courtesy USFWS

A group of scientists feels that Montana, as well as other states with wolf populations, are more or less just playing things by ear . . .

A group of 14 scientists with backgrounds in large carnivore research have called on state wildlife management agencies to set “clearly defined, quantitative policy goals” for wolf management.

“One of the big issues in science-based management is to have clear goals,” said Scott Creel, a professor in the Department of Ecology at Montana State University in Bozeman and the lead author of the paper published in the December issue of Science magazine. “Avoiding being listed under the Endangered Species Act is one of the goals, but it’s not clear if that’s the only goal.”

Creel said the conservation policy paper is an “attempt to redefine what is a sustainable level” of wolf removal through hunting, trapping and those killed by stockmen.

Read more . . .

As Yellowstone grizzly population rises, so does death toll

Environmental Issues, News, ,

Cinca - 5 May 2015

More grizzlies got into trouble in the Yellowstone area this year, but that is sort of a good thing . . .

The number of grizzly bear deaths or removals in the Yellowstone region climbed to an all-time high in 2015, but biologists say they’re not worried about the animal’s long-term survival in the area.

The known or suspected deaths of 55 bears shouldn’t interfere with plans to remove the region’s grizzlies from protection under the Endangered Species Act, Frank van Manen, leader of the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team, said Wednesday.

“This year should be considered within the context of what we’ve seen in terms of the long-term trend,” van Manen said.

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A still-growing El Niño set to bear down on U.S.

News, Science,

Global view of El Niño 2005 compared to El Niño 1997

Here’s the latest from NASA on the looming El Niño weather pattern building in the Pacific . . .

The current strong El Niño brewing in the Pacific Ocean shows no signs of waning, as seen in the latest satellite image from the U.S./European Ocean Surface Topography Mission (OSTM)/Jason-2 mission.

El Niño 2015 has already created weather chaos around the world. Over the next few months, forecasters expect the United States to feel its impacts as well.

The latest Jason-2 image bears a striking resemblance to one from December 1997, by Jason-2’s predecessor, the NASA/Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES) Topex/Poseidon mission, during the last large El Niño event. Both reflect the classic pattern of a fully developed El Niño…

Read more . . .

MWA announces 2016 Wilderness Walks schedule

News,

Snowy Trail

From a recent MWA email announcement . . .

Beginning this January, Montana Wilderness Association is offering 43 guided snowshoe and regular walks across some of the state’s most magnificent backcountry.

Now in its 13th season, MWA’s Winter Wilderness Walks program offers hikers of all ages and experience levels an opportunity to participate in a traditional recreation opportunity while enjoying Montana’s quiet beauty and treasured wild places. Winter Wilderness Walks also present a great way to meet new people, explore, and view wildlife in a winter setting.

All outings are free and open to the public, but participants need to preregister online. MWA will provide snowshoes for participants if necessary.

View the complete Winter Walks schedule
and pre-register now.

For more information, contact Amanda Hagerty at (406) 443-7350 ext. 108 or email her ahagerty@wildmontana.org.