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Montana Snowpack is Near to Below Normal as the Season Shifts to Spring
April ushered in the transition from winter to spring in the Montana snowpack accumulation season.
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Man gored by bison in Yellowstone National Park
On May 4, 2025, a 47-year-old man from Cape Coral, Florida, was injured by a bison in Yellowstone National Park.
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Catching on: FWP, MSU ask anglers for help with trout research in southwestern Montana
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff, in cooperation with Montana State University, have begun the second year of tagging trout in the Big Hole, Beaverhead, Ruby and Madison rivers.
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Sheriff warns of escalating wolf attacks as elk dies yards from home; front stoop left bloodied
The Sierra County Sheriff’s Office in California reports residents are under siege from wolves, posting graphic photos of a bloodied stoop where an elk was brought down just yards from a residence. There have been 18 wolf attacks confirmed in 28 days.
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Translocated wolf travels the equivalent of Denver to San Francisco in four months
A female gray wolf, released in Colorado in January after being translocated from British Columbia, has made significant movements across the state, covering more than 1,230 miles since translocation — an extraordinary display of the species’ natural roaming behavior.
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New Study Calculates the Cost to Cattle Ranchers of an Expanding Wolf Population
72% of wolf scat samples tested during the 2022 and 2023 summer seasons contained cattle DNA
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Correction made to hound hunting season dates in 2025 Black Bear Regulations
IMPORTANT: The season dates for hound hunting season in the printed version of the 2025 Black Bear Regulations were incorrectly listed in the printed regulations.
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Warden intercepts mussel-fouled tugboat near Anaconda
A Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks warden stopped a driver pulling a mussel-fouled tugboat after he drove past an aquatic invasive species (AIS) inspection station near Anaconda last week. The driver was traveling from Lake Michigan to the Puget Sound in Washington.
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Flathead County SAR finds man 14 miles from last known location
In a situation like this, 95% of missing people who walked away are found within approximately a 2 mile radius of their last known location. However, this person was found well outside of the search area after he had traveled approximately 14 miles!
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MSU Extension and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to host public meetings on wild and domestic sheep interactions
A series of free, public meetings will be held in Montana communities in April and May to discuss the Wild and Domestic Sheep Comingling Project.
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Governor Gianforte Promotes Bear Safety at Small Business in Butte
UDAP Industries, Inc. was founded by Mark Matheny after a life-altering experience in the Montana backcountry. In 1992, while hunting near Yellowstone National Park, Matheny survived a grizzly bear attack thanks to a canister of pepper spray used by his hunting partner.
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Two wolves introduced to Colorado found dead within days of each other
Two wolves translocated into Colorado have died this month. The following are press releases issued by Colorado Parks and Wildlife: […]
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Shooting for the Stars: UM Research Suggests Montana Night Sky Tourism
The Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research at the University of Montana promotes this pondering with new initiatives aimed at using a vast untapped resource – Big Sky Country at night.
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Flathead National Forest extends opportunity for public input on Holland Lake Lodge special use authorization application
The Flathead National Forest announced the public comment period on the Holland Lake Lodge special use authorization application is extended for an additional week.
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BMU 700 using hounds pending closure to all bears for spring season
By order of the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission, the hunting of all black bears in Bear Management Unit (BMU) 700 with hounds will close one half hour after sunset Monday April 28th, 2025.
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Two sheep test positive for pneumonia-causing bacteria north central Montana
Test results from two rams from bighorn sheep hunting district 622 have tested positive for a microorganism that can cause pneumonia.
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Former US Forest Service law enforcement officer pleads guilty to fraud
A Thompson Falls man accused of falsifying time and attendance records admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
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Reed Slough Wildlife Viewing Area near Kalispell opens to public
On Saturday, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Director Christy Clark, FWP staff and local stakeholders cut the ribbon on the brand-new Reed’s Slough Wildlife Viewing Area.
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FWP to perform maintenance, habitat enhancement at several sites in southwestern Montana
Recreationists may see several construction and habitat -enhancement projects happening in southwestern Montana this month. Temporary closures may be in effect for some sites during construction.
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Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park announces tours for 2025 season
Cave tours will be offered May 1 through Sept. 30.
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Big Hole River Foundation Joins Forces with Save Wild Trout
BHRF officially joins forces with Save Wild Trout – an exciting merger that will allow for the expansion of BHRF’s highly respected water quality monitoring program to all four rivers of the Jefferson Basin – the Big Hole, Beaverhead, Ruby, and Jefferson Rivers.
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Temporary Closure on West Rosebud Road (#2072) for New Bridge Installation Across Chicken Creek
The Beartooth Ranger District will temporarily close a section of Forest Road 2072, known as West Rosebud Road, from April 22 to May 8, 2025.
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Montana mine one of 10 projects advanced by Trump administration
A proposed Montana mine is one of 10 projects being expedited by the Trump administration to advance domestic critical minerals production.
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20TH ANNUAL PADDLING FILM FEST WORLD TOUR TWO WEEKS AWAY
The Paddling Film Festival is an international adventure film tour presenting the world’s best paddling films of the year – whitewater, sea kayaking, canoeing, rafting, SUP, action and lifestyle around the world.
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Three bears killed after woman bitten, dragged from porch
The bears reportedly had previously broken into a vehicle to access groceries and damaged it so badly it was totaled.
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California spends millions on gray wolf expansion efforts
Since 2022, CDFW has awarded or approved $3.1 million in compensation for livestock loss es, for indirect impacts of wolf prescence, and costs of nonlethal deterrence.
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Forest Service Announces Hiring of Firefighters
Up to 50 Permanent Firefighter and Fire Management Positions Available Regionally.
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Grizzly bear killed in encounter near Dupuyer
The man was searching for antlers on a brushy hillside when he first saw a bear. As he was leaving the area, the bear charged him at close range.
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Kalispell man found guilty on seven criminal counts related to poaching crimes
Carr was convicted of two counts of unlawful possession of wildlife, two counts of hunting or killing an overlimit of game animals, two counts of waste of game animals, and a single count of loan or transfer of a license.
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BLM reminds recreational shooters to prioritize safety and fire prevention on public lands
With warmer spring weather drawing more people outdoors, the Bureau of Land Management is reminding the public to follow safe and responsible shooting practices on BLM-managed lands in Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.
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Two Men Sentenced in Largest-Ever Bird Mount Trafficking Case in U.S. History
$900,000 Fine is One of the Largest Ever Ordered for an Endangered Species Act Case. Waldrop amassed an extensive collection of 1,401 taxidermy bird mounts and 2,594 eggs.
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Annual survey shows increase in gray wolf packs in Washington, decrease in overall minimum wolf count
As of Dec. 31, 2024, WDFW and partnering tribes counted 230 wolves (a 9% decrease from 2023) in 43 packs in Washington.
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Bridger Aerospace Awarded Exclusive-Use Contract by State of Montana for Innovative Wildfire Detection Aircraft
Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, Inc. (“Bridger” or “Bridger Aerospace”) (NASDAQ: BAER, BAERW), announced today that, after participating in a competitive bidding process, it has been notified by the State of Montana as the successful bidder for an exclusive-use contract to provide wildfire detection and mapping using a specially modified Daher Kodiak 100 aircraft.
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Flathead National Forest seeks public input on Holland Lake Lodge special use authorization application
The Flathead National Forest announced the acceptance of the special use authorization application for Holland Lake Lodge, allowing the potential buyers, Eric Jacobsen and Thomas Knowles, to operate the lodge within the existing footprint and facilities.
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BOLO: Gallatin County asks for help in locating hiker missing since fall
As more and more people venture outside to enjoy our spring weather, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office is requesting assistance from hunters and hikers who explore the New World Gulch/Bear Canyon area.
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Seattle woman sentenced to 7 days incarceration for approaching Old Faithful
Ms. Flaherty left the boardwalk and viewing area surrounding Old Faithful geyser and walked approximately 10 feet onto the cone of Old Faithful.
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More than 150,000 geese push through Freezout Lake on Thursday, Friday
Earlier this week, bird counters noted on the Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area’s migration tracker that the migration numbers had […]
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BLM to increase fees at recreation sites across Montana
Read this before you head out this spring. Some fee increases already went into effect April 1, 2025.
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Interior Secretary directs National Park Service to keep parks open and staffed
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued an order late Thursday that directs the National Park Service to ensure the National Park System “is properly staffed to support the operating hours and needs of each park unit.”
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Secretary Rollins Announces Sweeping Reforms to Protect National Forests and Boost Domestic Timber Production
More than 112 million acres are now under an emergency declaration meant to boost American timber production by 25%.
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BLM reports damage at Acton Recreation Area
The Billings Field Office staff has seen an increase in activities occurring at Acton Recreation Area which have caused a substantial amount of resource damage,
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Nearly 90 Morgan horses up for adoption in Madison County
Are you looking to adopt a four-legged buddy to enjoy the outdoors with? Nearly 90 Morgan horses are coming up for adoption in Madison County.
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Ross Creek Cedars Nature Trail closed until September
A closure is anticipated to be in effect in the area from April through September 2025.
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Study finds mercury contamination in the Rocky Mountains
A new study finds that mines in the Pacific Northwest, Idaho, and Montana are likely the source of mercury and other […]
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Man sentenced to week in jail for parking on Yellowstone thermal area
Is this sentence too much? Or too little?
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MSU Extension’s Schutter Lab identifies first known blacklegged tick in Montana
For the first time, specialists in Montana have identified a blacklegged tick in the state, a species that can carry and transmit Lyme disease.
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2025 Migratory Bird Stamp announced
FWP launched the Migratory Bird Stamp contest in 2024 to help raise additional awareness and appreciation for wetlands conservation and the benefits of intact wetlands to people and wildlife.
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Montana House Set to Vote on Resolution Supporting Federal Land Transfer
Here’s the Montana Wildlife Federation’s take on the proposed bill, but what is yours?
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Blackfoot-Clearwater Wildlife Management Area antler hunter vehicle registration opens April 1
In a continued effort to improve safety on opening day at Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Blackfoot-Clearwater Wildlife Management Area (WMA), antler hunters wanting to enter by vehicle when the animals WMA opens at noon on May 15, 2025 should register beginning at noon on Tuesday, April 1.
