KAJ

Posted 07/30/2010 12:22 PM by Diane Tipton, FWP Statewide Information Officer

HELENA - Sponges are a very cool life form. They may look and act like plants or algae, but they are invertebrate animals, animals without spines.

Too bad Montana doesn't have any sponges you might say-but you'd be wrong! Surprise-Montana has five identified species of freshwater sponges.

Who knew? Even the joint Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Montana Natural Heritage Program Animal Field Guide lists only one species of freshwater sponge at this time. The state's n… Click to Read More

Posted 07/30/2010 12:50 PM by Montana FWP

HELENA - There's nothing like lazy summer days on the river with family and friends. Here's what you need to know to keep those days safe and fun for the entire crew.

Under Montana Law, life jackets must be worn by:

• all children under 12 years of age in boats less than 26 feet in length and in motion;
• water skiers, tubers, or anyone being towed by a boat; and
• anyone operating or riding a personal watercraft.

Posted 07/30/2010 12:15 PM by Montana FWP

HELENA - Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on the classification of three exotic species.

The Barbary falcon and coho salmon are proposed as controlled and the hyena is proposed as a prohibited species.

The FWP Commission is required by law to classify exotic species into controlled, non-controlled or prohibited categories and to manage any associated permitting.

A permit is required to possess, sell, purchase, breed, or exchange species cla… Click to Read More

Posted 07/30/2010 12:08 PM by Montana FWP

HELENA - The deadline to apply to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks for a tundra swan hunting permit is Sept. 2nd.

In the Central Flyway portion of the state, 500 permits are proposed. In the Pacific Flyway, which includes Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area near Fairfield, 500 permits are proposed for swan hunting in Cascade, Choteau, Toole, Liberty, Hill and those portions of Teton and Pondera counties east of US Highway 287 from Augusta to Choteau and US Highway 89 from Choteau… Click to Read More

Posted 07/30/2010 12:05 PM by Montana FWP

HELENA - The deadline to purchase a mountain lion hunting license for the general season, or to apply for the special license drawing, is Aug. 31.

Mountain lion hunters may choose to apply for a special license available through the drawing valid only in certain hunting districts-or they may purchase a general mountain lion license. They cannot do both.

Mountain lion hunting in most Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 1 and 2 hunting districts will be only by special mou… Click to Read More

Posted 07/30/2010 12:01 PM by Montana FWP

HELENA - The deadline for black bear hunters to purchase licenses for the fall season is Aug. 31.

A black bear license may be purchased after Aug. 31at a Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks office or on the Internet licensing site, but it may not be used until five days after the license is issued.

The black bear archery season opens Sept. 4 and th… Click to Read More

Posted 07/30/2010 6:31 AM by Mark Thorsell, Angela Douglas

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COOKE CITY - Additional information is being released in connection with a fatal bear attack which happened near Yellowstone Park on Wednesday morning.

State wildlife officials say that two people were injured and one person was killed in separate bear attacks that occurred at the Soda Butte Campground.

Park County Sheriff's Department dispatch records show that a Park County Sheriff's deputy and a Montana Fish, Wildlife &a… Click to Read More

Posted 07/28/2010 4:44 PM by Dennis Bragg

MISSOULA - State wildlife managers are watching another new grizzly moved to the Cabinet Mountains this week. But this time the bruin isn't there because it caused problems, but to help the bear population in the Northwest Montana range.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks moved the 3 to 4 year old grizzly sow over the weekend, as part of a program to augment the number of bears in the Cabinet-Yaak ecosystem.

FWP biologists captured the bear Saturday in the Spruce Creek drainage on the N… Click to Read More

Posted 07/28/2010 2:07 PM

MISSOULA - A Special Order closing Forest Service Road 300.1, the railroad grade near the Dominion Creek trestle on the Superior Ranger District, is currently in place to ensure public safety while crews begin renovation and construction work on the Dominion Creek tunnel and trestle.

The bulk of the work involves heavy equipment and forest officials say that the closure is for public safety reasons. The shut down of the railroad grade - which extends from a half mile east of the east… Click to Read More

Posted 07/28/2010 10:58 AM by Breanna Roy

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MISSOULA - The Nature Conservancy is ensuring 18,000 more acres of land in the Blackfoot Valley is protected.

The conservancy purchased the land from Plum Creek Timber Company and it includes portions of Chamberlain, Bear and Pearson creeks, waters knows for the native Westslope cutthroat trout.

Region No. 2 Fish, Wildlife and Parks manager Pat Saffel said it's valuable land for several other species from Canada lynx to bear and game species. He also said the land is the one o… Click to Read More