Elusive wolverine photographed in Montana

Environmental Issues, News, ,

The Wildlife Conservation Society snagged a camera trap photo of a Wolverine recently. No word on where in Montana it was photographed. Here’s the original image and press release . . .

BOZEMAN (February 29, 2012) – A baby bear on stilts, perhaps? Nope. Conservationists with the Wildlife Conservation Society recently released this camera-trap photo of a wolverine retrieving bait placed in a tree in Montana. The frame upon which the animal climbs is designed so that the unique markings on the underside of the wolverine are revealed to the motion-sensing camera. Scientists use these markings to identify individual animals and document their distribution and range. WCS’s eight-year study of wolverines in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem has led to a better understanding of wolverine ecology and will help inform conservation strategies so that this rare species can survive despite the 21st century conservation challenges it faces. An estimated 250-300 wolverines remain in the “lower 48,” where they occupy about half of their former range in high alpine peaks of the western United States.

 

Grizzlies beginning to stir in Yellowstone area

Environmental Issues, News,

It’s that time again. A few grizzly bears are up and about near Yellowstone National Park and we’ll likely see the same around here soon . . .

Reports of grizzly bear sightings at lower elevations east of Yellowstone National Park have begun to trickle in to wildlife officials, and food storage regulations on several national forests went into effect on Thursday.

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Despite hunt, Montana wolf population rose 15 percent in 2011

Environmental Issues, News, , ,

Posted yesterday evening to the Missoulian . . .

The number of wolves in Montana increased by 15 percent to at least 653 animals despite the state’s efforts to reduce the population with an extended hunting season, state wildlife officials said Wednesday.

Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks officials said 87 more wolves were counted at the end of 2011 than were in the state a year before. There were 130 verified packs and 39 breeding pairs counted, also increases from 2010 numbers.

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Montana DNRC, North Fork landowners to reduce fire hazard

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

There’s a nice bit of money in the pot for fuels reduction work this year . . .

A deal between the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and the North Fork Landowners Association will keep the North Fork buzzing with chainsaws this spring in an effort to reduce flammable fuels throughout the area.

According to forester Bill Swope, nearly two-thirds of the area along the North Fork Road, between Camas Creek and the Canadian border, have been scorched by wildfire since 1988. Now much of that is regrowing and he said efforts must be made to thin underbrush, which will be the focus of a $100,000 grant from DNRC.

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Glacier Park seeks comment on Quartz Lake invasive species fish barrier

Environmental Issues, News, , , ,

Glacier Park is trying to keep non-native lake trout out of Quartz Lake . . .

Glacier National Park officials are seeking public comment on a project that would modify and improve a fish barrier designed to stem the invasion of lake trout in Quartz Lake.

Considered one of the last best strongholds for native fish in the entire Columbia River Basin, Quartz Lake’s native fish populations include bull trout, which are classified as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, as well as westslope cutthroat trout and mountain whitefish.

Native fish populations in Glacier National Park have been compromised by the invasion of non-native fish species into the park’s lakes and streams, and lake trout are being targeted as the chief culprit.

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Further reading: official Glacier Park press release.

Special backcountry avalanche warning issued for Northwest Montana

News, Snow Conditions

Skiing or snowmobiling in the backcountry is risky business right now . . .

A special backcountry avalanche warning was issued Sunday for the mountains of Northwest Montana.

Avalanche danger is “high” for areas between 4,500 feet and 7,500 feet, according to Flathead National Forest avalanche expert Stan Bones.

Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended, according to the advisory. The warning applies to the Mission, Swan, Flathead, Lewis and Continental Divide mountain ranges.

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More reading: avalanche advisory at the Flathead National Forest web site.

Lone wolf visits Kalispell Saturday morning

News,

It seems a wolf made a post-hunting season visit to Kalispell Saturday morning . . .

Three generations of the Grande family shared a bonding experience Saturday morning when they followed a wolf through northwest Kalispell . . .

The Grandes weren’t the only people to report seeing the wolf, according to the Kalispell Police Department dispatch log.

The Kalispell wolf saga started at 10:30 a.m., when a woman reported seeing the wolf running along Windward Way, near the Kalispell Regional Medical Center. Just before 11 a.m., another woman said she saw it running along the back of the Flathead County Fairgrounds.

Shortly after 11 a.m., the Grandes made their reports. The wolf was then spotted in a field between Northridge Drive and Four Mile Drive. As it exited town, deputies with the Flathead County Sheriff’s Department took up the chase and managed to film it on their dashboard cameras.

It was at that point that officers contacted Fish, Wildlife and Parks, which sent out three people with equipment to try and read the collar’s signal . . .

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Kyle Johnson named NPS wilderness champion

News, ,

Glacier National Park Wilderness Specialist Kyle Johnson recently received the National Park Service Intermountain Region Wilderness Champion Award. Of the local news organizations, the Hungry Horse News has the best coverage of this story . . .

When Kyle Johnson wasn’t playing sports at Columbia Falls High School, he was out in the woods hunting and fishing with his friends and family.

That passion for the woods – and its preservation – was recently recognized as he received the National Park Service Intermountain Region Wilderness Champion Award.

Johnson is Glacier National Park’s wilderness specialist. He developed and instructs the Park’s interagency wilderness training for backcountry rangers and volunteers and worked with the University of Montana to create the successful wilderness ranger internship position at the Park.

In addition, he oversees the Park’s backcountry permit program and is a leader in teaching Leave-No-Trace principles and practices. He also assists in search-and-rescue missions and other Park ranger duties.

Continue reading . . .

Further reading: the official Glacier Park press release.

Superintendent discusses future challenges for Glacier National Park

Environmental Issues, News, , , , ,

Today’s Flathead Beacon has a pretty good write-up on a recent talk by Chas Cartwright, the Superintendent of Glacier National Park . . .

As the superintendent of Glacier National Park, Chas Cartwright has his eyes on the future, as well as the challenges it could hold for conservation and construction in the Crown of the Continent.

Cartwright spoke on Feb. 23 at an event hosted by the Glacier National Park Fund at Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish, discussing the major issues the park currently faces and how he envisions those issues playing out.

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