Community Briefs

Montana State Parks presents “LIVE ANIMALS with Animal Wonders,” Aug. 18

PLACID LAKE - You don’t have to go far to find some of the most spectacular animals in the world—Animal Wonders is located right in Missoula and they are coming to Seeley Lake! Join founders Jessi and Augusto Castañeda at Placid Lake State Park’s group use picnic area (behind site 22) at 7 p.m. Aug. 18 for an educational presentation about exotic and native animals, many of which will be at the presentation.

The Castañedas founded Animal Wonders in August 2008 to fulfill their dream of sharing the wonders of wildlife with the public! Having already rescued over 30 animals, they wanted to ensure the animals a permanent home and provide a safe haven for others in need. Most of the animal residents were displaced from their homes and adopted by Animal Wonders, where they will have a life-long home filled with love and attention to their specific needs.

The presentation is great for all ages and it’s free as part of the Montana State Parks Campfire Programs. This is the final program for the summer.

Decision Notice Released for Cold Jim Fuels Reduction and Forest Health Project

Swan Valley - The Swan Lake Ranger District of the Flathead National Forest released the decision notice (DN) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the Cold Jim Fuels Reduction and Forest Health Project.

The Cold Jim project area is located approximately three miles northwest of the community of Condon. The project area contains approximately 33,289 acres of land within the Flathead National Forest in Lake and Missoula Counties, Montana.

The decision notice identifies alternative C modified as the selected alternative. Under the selected alternative, approximately 740 acres of commercial harvest, 189 acres of pre-commercial thinning, 49 acres of inter-planting and three resource enhancement projects will take place. Vegetation management activities will be accessed through an estimated 3.1 miles of temporary road. The selected alternative also includes 1.9 miles of road decommissioning.

This decision will reduce the risk of high-severity wildfires within the wildland-urban interface; improve or maintain the health, resiliency and sustainability of forested stands; and provide forest products for local communities.

The DN/FONSI is available online at http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=38024.

For more information, please contact Acting Project Leader Kelsey Pike at 406-387-3800.

Elk B License Requires Clarification in Some Western Montana Hunting Districts

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks wants western Montana elk hunters to know about a clarification in the regulations relative to the Elk B license (002-00) for Upper Clark Fork districts 210, 211, 212, 215 and 216.

The wording in the printed 2018 Montana Hunting Regulations has led to confusion about whether the Elk B license can be used on public lands during the archery-only season. Mike Thompson, FWP Region 2 Wildlife Manager, clarified that the license cannot be used on public lands during archery-only season. It is valid only on private lands.

“Unfortunately, the wording is confusing in our regulations that are already printed, but we will make a clarification in the online regulations and are working to get the word out to hunters ahead of the season,” Thompson said.

The clarified regulations will be available online at fwp.mt.gov, under “Hunting” and then “Regulations.” They say that in HDs 210, 211, 212, 215 and 216, the Elk B License is valid for antlerless elk on private lands only (excluding Weyerhaeuser, Stimson and The Nature Conservancy) from Aug. 15 through Oct. 19.

Then, from Oct. 20 through Feb. 15, the license is valid on those same private lands and on public DNRC lands that are located outside National Forest boundaries and FWP Wildlife Management Areas. The license is also valid on the Montana State Prison Ranch in HD 212 from Oct. 20 through Feb. 15, in compliance with Prison Ranch access regulations.

“The bottom line and most important clarification is that the 002-00 Elk B License is never valid for hunting on public lands during the archery-only elk season,” Thompson said.

The 002-00 B License is an unlimited license and will be available for purchase over-the-counter at any license provider or online at fwp.mt.gov from Aug. 6 through Oct. 19.