Mountain lions

Mountain lions lethally removed

Lions were public safety concern on Wild Horse Island State Park

News from MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks

KALISPELL — This winter, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks lethally removed three adult mountain lions from Wild Horse Island State Park in collaboration with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

FWP received reports of lion sightings from landowners and visitors and indicated the lions were habituated to people. The presence of multiple lions on the island, which spans 2,163 acres on the south end of Flathead Lake, created a public safety issue due to the high density and habituation.

Furthermore, FWP and CSKT were concerned about the impact to one of the nation’s most important conservation herds of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, which have persisted disease-free on the island for nearly a century. Although Wild Horse Island provides high quality habitat that supports a sheep population that has produced some of the largest rams in the world, it has no escape terrain from mountain lions.

In the last half century, more than 560 sheep have been moved from Wild Horse Island to establish new herds and augment existing populations across the U.S. Last year FWP moved 26 bighorn sheep from the island to the Tendoy Mountains in southwest Montana to help reestablish a herd in that area.

Bears and lions have been sporadically documented on the island over time, but the density and habituated behavior of these three lions warranted removal, according to FWP and CSKT wildlife managers.

“Alongside prioritizing public safety, we felt it was important to protect one of the few disease-free bighorn sheep herds because of the role it plays in the greater conservation of the species across North America,” said Neil Anderson, FWP regional wildlife manager. “Due to the lack of escape terrain for bighorn sheep and the number of lions on the island, the bighorn population has been reduced to a number we haven’t seen in decades.”

“Mountain lion and other cats, like the bobcat, hold significant cultural importance to Tribal members, and are not hunted within the Flathead Indian Reservation,” said Kari Eneas, CSKT wildlife manager. “Our mountain lion populations are healthy and, in this unique situation, we considered the habituated behavior and density of animals of all wildlife species on the island in our cooperative decision with FWP.”

Montana is home to a healthy and robust population of mountain lions. FWP has a long-standing policy against relocating a habituated mountain lion. Previous research shows lion relocations are largely unsuccessful in preventing the lion from returning, or it creates new territorial conflicts with other lions. Removing the lions from Wild Horse Island does not impact the overall population in northwest Montana.

The lion hides and skulls from Wild Horse Island were transferred to the CSKT for educational use.

USDA extends deadline for Hog Program

WASHINGTON — Hog producers who sold hogs through a spot market sale during the COVID-19 pandemic now have until April 15, 2022, to submit their applications for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program (SMHPP). SMHPP, which is part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative, originally had a deadline to submit applications by Feb. 25, 2022.

Local emergency response, preparedness in need of volunteers

By Taylor Davison / Valley Journal

LAKE COUNTY — A presentation by the emergency response teams in the Flathead Basin revealed a common need: volunteers.

Presenters of the panel included Nic Winslow of BNSF, Brian Heino of Flathead County, Mark Clary of Lake County, and Dale Nelson of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. All of them expressed how emergency response in the Flathead Basin comes down to collaboration.

The emergency teams throughout the basin respond to a variety of events, particularly in the last few years. Water quality is a huge issue; each time a vehicle sinks into Flathead Lake, emergency response acts to remove the vehicle and debris and mitigate any oil spills with equipment such as sock booms and vinyl walls, or, if severe enough, by calling in hazmat teams from Kalispell or Missoula.

Forest fires pose another challenge for the area. The Bolder 2700 fire was the first seen by Lake County that caused loss of structures, though thankfully there was no loss of life. The Sheriff’s department helped evacuate residents, an evacuation location had to be set up for those who had lost their homes, and there was the risk of burned structures and debris sliding down into the highway or lake with the loss of vegetation. The CSKT forestry department stepped in to help stabilize the area, preventing logs, rocks, and debris from causing further damage in a slide.

During the peak of the pandemic, the emergency response departments worked together to maintain a unified command, condensing tribal and public health to keep the community healthy across the basin’s borders.

Each team in the basin works together, sharing resources, equipment and personnel as needed both when an emergency is called in, and when something can be done ahead of time to prevent one. They have the connections to loop in other departments as well, from search and rescue to forestry services.

“All of us work together and get the job done,” said Nelson.

The BSNF Railway contributes as well, working on spill prevention and compliance response plans for the railway, and keeping equipment available and pre-inspected for emergencies so it’s ready to go when it’s rolled into an event. They also extensively train first responders in adverse conditions from cold weather to fast moving water to assure a fast response when they’re asked for help.

“We would not survive in our counties without co-response,” Clary stated. “You never know when your bad day’s coming.”

Yet, the emergency response in the Flathead Basin could fall apart within years, presenters shared, if they continue to lose volunteers.

One presenter said that, while he understands why so many new people have been drawn to the area, they need to realize that the environment that attracted them cannot be sustained without their participation. The partnership and community are what make small towns work. Without volunteers, they crumble.

To volunteer with local search and rescue, fire districts, or EMS, individuals are encouraged to simply call and ask.

“It takes individuals making commitments to sustain a program. You have to spend the time, even though we’re all busy,” Heino said. “There’s always a need. There’s always an opportunity.”

“(New people) need to realize that the environment that attracted them cannot be sustained without their participation. The partnership and community are what make small towns work.”

- Flathead Basin emergency responder

MARK CLARY / LAKE COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT Emergency response teams in the Flathead Basin pool resources during major emergencies to help mitigate damage for the good of everyone.

election

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since moving to Polson from Yellowstone Park over a decade ago, describes the current political scene as “discouraging.” “This last legislative session was an alarming situation for Democrats as far as what was jammed through the Legislature because Republicans had total control,” he says. “That’s one of the reasons folks are considering running – they know how important it is for Lake County and Montana to balance things out.”

Meanwhile, he’s encouraged to see younger people joining the party and enlisting in leadership roles. “As they get their feet on the ground and start moving forward, those of us who are a little long in tooth are standing by to help them out.”

By the time the filing deadline rolls around at 5 p.m. Monday, March 14, he’s confident Democrats will have stepped forward to vie for local and state positions. And he hopes that those who didn’t file, but considered it, “will be able to run in a future cycle.”

The filing deadline for Special Purpose Districts, including rural fire, water, sewer and irrigation districts, closed Feb. 7. School board candidates must file with their district office by March 24. Those elections take place jointly May 3. The primary election for county, state and federal offices is June 7.

For more information, visit www.lakemt.gov/ election/election.html or the Secretary of State’s office, sosmt.gov/elections/.

National Invasive Species Awareness Week addresses protecting the west

By Taylor Davison Valley Journal

MONTANA — As part of the National Invasive Species Awareness Week, the Upper Columbia Conservation Commission (UC3) and the Montana Invasive Species Council (MISC) partnered to help Montanans take a stand against destructive invasive species.

The organizations then collaborated with the Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation to explain that when it comes to preventing invasive species from taking over the wildlife, there are a few simple steps every Montanan can take to help.

The first is to watch out for noxious weeds. While Montanans are no stranger to knapweed and leafy spurge, dozens more have made their way into Montana’s landscapes. Two of particularly high concern, according to MISC, are medusahead and ventenata. Both are invasive, annual grasses that are extremely aggressive and, in addition to devastating crops and livestock, create widespread fuel for wildfires. Seeds can cling to people and animals when they pass by to continue their spread, so MISC encourages people to always “Play, clean, go.” This simply means people should clean their gear both before and after they recreate to help stop the spread.

Consumers are also encouraged to use certified weed-free forage, hay, and mulch. Without confirmation that these common agricultural items are from weed-free sources, contamination could be present that could spread throughout property and impact livelihoods.

Montanans are also reminded to only plant non-invasive species in gardens. While some plants may look attractive, their planting could lead to an unintentional spread of an invasive species that devastates the local ecosystem. Many invasive species introductions come from ornamental trade, so always research before planting.

Another main step for Montanans centered around the prevention of aquatic invasive species. New Zealand mudsnails, zebra mussels, and Eurasian waterfoil are just a few that can take over quickly and cause devastating damage by clogging pipes that impact agriculture, hydropower, and residential water sources.

The UC3, created in 2017 in response to invasive mussel detections in two Montana waterways, is charged with fostering close cooperation between water resource managers for the Upper Columbia River Basin. While they specialize in monitoring and controlling the infestation of aquatic invasive species, Montanans can help prevent an invasion. Cleaning all equipment and clothing that comes into contact with waterways is a huge component of prevention, and watercraft inspections are mandatory in Montana. One microscopic mussel larva can be all it takes to start permanent damage, so always clean, drain, and dry water equipment before moving between locations. Residents are also reminded not to release aquatic pets into waterways.

Finally, the week closed out with a cautionary tale on wild swine. These feral pigs are both adaptive and extremely destructive. Able to strip a field of crops in a single night, according to MISC, feral swine are also known to carry over 30 diseases and parasites that can threaten livestock, wildlife, and humans alike. Thankfully, as of 2021 there is no strong evidence of feral swine in Montana. They are established however in neighboring Alberta, Saskatchewan, and their populations have been expanding northward from the southern U.S.

Montanans are encouraged to watch out for signs of feral swine, including wallowing, digging, and prints that are similar to those of deer

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COURTESY PHOTO One plant seed or microscopic larva left behind on equipment could lead to a costly infestation that changes the face of Montana.