Missoulian editorial: Daines, Walsh should team up to pass North Fork bill

Commentary, Environmental Issues, ,

The Missoulian is not pleased with the political posturing holding up the North Fork Watershed Protection Act . . .

U.S. Rep. Steve Daines might want to have a little chat with some his Republican counterparts in the Senate.

Three of them in particular: Ted Cruz of Texas, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Tom Coburn of Oklahoma.

These three U.S. Senators blocked passage of the no-nonsense, common-sense North Fork Watershed Protection Act through the Senate. A similar measure has already been passed by the House – thanks to Daines’ sponsorship.

Read more . . .

Glacier Park’s first research scientist passes away

News, ,

Cliff Martinka, Glacier Park’s first full-time research scientist passed away March 18 . . .

In August 1967, two weeks after starting his job as Glacier National Park’s first research scientist, Cliff Martinka received an unlikely assignment – kill the bears.

Two young women, at campsites miles apart from one another, situated on opposite sides of 9,000-foot Heavens Peak, had been mauled and killed by grizzly bears. They were the first bear-related fatalities since the park’s inception in 1910, and the tragedy was indelibly etched into history as the “Night of the Grizzlies.”

Scant research had occurred at that point, and rangers could provide little information or insight into what had prompted the bears’ aggressive behavior.

Read more . . .

Gov. Bullock lists 5.1 million acres of forest lands for restoration

News,

Part of the Flathead National Forest is on the list . . .

Gov. Steve Bullock has identified more than 5.1 million acres of national forest land in Montana as top priorities for restoration.

The Democrat said Monday the forest areas he picked are declining in health, have a risk of increased tree deaths or pose a risk to public infrastructure or safety.

The farm bill passed by Congress this year allows governors to nominate forest restoration priorities. Bullock says his aim in nominating 8,000 square miles from northwestern to south-central Montana is to increase the pace and scale of restoration and strengthen the role of citizen collaborative groups.

Read more . . .

Surgical conference looks at bear maulings

News,

Here’s something you won’t encounter in most parts of the country . . .

It was against a macabre backdrop that Saturday’s bear-mauling conference took place at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

In front of more than 100 medical professionals, students and forest workers, several bear-mauling experts showed photos of massive wounds that people suffered from tangling with the kings of the forest.

The theme of the Association of Surgical Technologists conference was “Bear Maulings: Before and After.”

Read more . . .

Environmental group sues USGS for NW Montana grizzly bear data

Environmental Issues, News,

The Alliance for the Wild Rockies is annoyed with federal foot-dragging . . .

A conservation group is suing the U.S. Geological Survey for information on threatened grizzly bears in northwestern Montana.

The Alliance for the Wild Rockies says the USGS failed to respond to a Freedom of Information Act request for reports and findings on the Cabinet-Yaak Grizzly Bear DNA Project.

The project aims to give researchers a better idea of the number of bears in that area through DNA from hair samples.

Read more . . .

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service wolf recovery information online

Documents, Environmental Issues, News, , ,

For those of you who like to dig into source materials, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service maintains a web site with news, information and recovery status reports on gray wolves on the Northern Rockies. You’ll find it here: http://westerngraywolf.fws.gov.

The agency’s “Office of External Affairs” also maintains a page with links to wolf-related press releases, public notices, hearing transcripts, articles and studies at http://www.fws.gov/home/wolfrecovery/.

Wilderness and… 700 Miles of Canada’s Churchill River

News, , , ,

The Montana Wilderness Association announces their final presentation in this years’ Wilderness Speaker Series . . .

Thursday, April 10, 2014

7:00 p.m.

Flathead Valley Community College

Arts and Technology Bldg, Room 139

On June 22, 2012, three days after retiring from the Forest Service, Jonathan Klein slid his canoe onto the waters of Canada’s Churchill River and began a 700-mile solo canoe trip that would take him from Saskatchewan to the Hudson Bay. Jonathan’s seven weeks on the Churchill tested him mentally and physically, nearly got him killed by black bear, and gave him ample time to reflect upon the value and meaning of wilderness.

Please join us for this final presentation in our Wilderness Speaker Series.

Wolf numbers remain stable

Environmental Issues, News, ,

Several articles appeared today discussing the wolf population in this corner of the country. Rather than post them individually, here’s the list all in one place . . .

Rockies gray wolf numbers steady despite hunting

Gray wolves in the U.S. Northern Rockies are showing resilience as states adopt increasingly aggressive tactics to drive down their numbers through hunting, trapping and government-sponsored pack removals…

New Study Seeks Cost-Effective Estimate Of Montana Wolves

Researchers from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the University of Montana released preliminary results today of a new technique for estimating wolf numbers in Montana…

FWP Releases Minimum Wolf Count For 2013

Montana’s verified wolf population remained stable last year while livestock depredations by wolves continued to decline, dropping about 27 percent from 2012…

Three GOP senators block vote on North Fork Watershed Protection Act

Environmental Issues, News,

As expected, U.S. Senators Cruz, Toomey and Coburn blocked an attempt to pass the North Fork Watershed Protection Act by “unanimous consent” . . .

Montana’s newest U.S. senator, Democrat John Walsh, tried Thursday to pass the bill protecting the North Fork of the Flathead River from mineral development, but a trio of Republican senators blocked the move.

Walsh, appointed to the job on Feb. 7, asked the U.S. Senate to pass the measure by “unanimous consent,” but three senators – Ted Cruz of Texas, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Tom Coburn of Oklahoma – objected…

While Walsh’s attempt to pass the bill failed, the measure remains on the Senate calendar and could be considered later.

Read more . . .