Outdoor news

Bison meeting

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will host a public meeting in Kalispell on May 15 at the Red Lion Inn at 20 N. Main Street to discuss bison management. The meeting runs from 6 to 9 p.m. and is part of a first step toward developing a long-term bison conservation and management plan for the state. The bison management plan will be developed through a 3-year environmental analysis which will address issues associated with bison and options for their long-term management as a Montana wildlife species. FWP will begin a formal public “scoping” process as required under the Montana Environmental Policy Act. Public scoping is aimed at identifying issues, impacts, public concerns, and conservation challenges and opportunities. The comments will assist FWP in further identifying issues and developing possible alternatives. For more information, including research leading this stage of bison management, visit online at fwp.mt.gov. Under ‘For Fish & Wildlife Information’ choose “Bison Background.”

Loon volunteers

The Montana Loon Society and the Montana Common Loon Working Group need volunteers to help observe and count loons on lakes throughout Northwest Montana on Saturday, July 14, Loon Day. For areas west of Kalispell, call Gael Bissell at 751-4580; for the Tally/Stillwater area, call Laura Holmquist at 758-3501; for West Flathead Valley and Upper Whitefish Lake, call Chris Forestall at 751-2258; and for Glacier National Park, call Jamie Belt at 888-7986.