Fortunately, two hunters are uninjured after an encounter with three grizzly bears on the morning of Nov. 5 on the Pyramid Pass Trail east of Seeley Lake.

The hunters had harvested a mule deer buck earlier in the morning and were hiking to retrieve the deer when they encountered the bears. They were about two miles from the Pyramid Pass Trailhead when they saw three grizzly bears approximately 100 yards away, running towards them.

The hunters reported that they yelled at the bears and waved their arms, but the bears continued running towards the hunters without slowing down. One hunter shot at and possibly killed two of the grizzly bears, and the third bear retreated towards the mule deer carcass.

The hunters left the site right away and immediately reported the incident as self-defense to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. The U.S. Forest Service has posted signs at the Pyramid Pass Trailhead to alert visitors of the recent bear activity. Read more

Jays are beautifully colored and they certainly have an interesting character that adds to the activity at a feeding station (photos by Paul Konrad).

Even the smallest seed-eating birds, like these American Goldfinches, find shelled sunflower seeds to be a preferred food.

Ultimately, the types of seeds you provide at your feeders will dictate what birds you will attract. Knowing this, experienced birders narrow the seeds they provide to seeds with the best food value, that will also attract the species of birds they prefer. It’s equally important to avoid seeds that attract unwanted birds that can overpower your feeding station. It’s natural to think the more variety the better, but some seeds can lead to problems with domineering birds, squirrels, and other rodents. Sometimes it takes a bit of personal research at your own feeding station, which can be part of the fun. Read more

Wednesday, the U.S. Senate resoundingly voted to protect science-based wildlife management by rejecting a proposal, S.J. Res. 69, to overturn the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) Barred Owl Management Strategy, an effort influenced by some of the nation’s leading anti-hunting and animal rights activists. Leading up to the vote, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) worked directly with the nearly 60 U.S. Senators in the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus to see this proposal defeated.

It is estimated that Northern spotted owls range from 3,000 to 5,200 birds in total. One of the biggest threats facing spotted owls is the non-native, invasive barred owls, which outcompete the threatened, native spotted owls. To address this issue, in 2024, FWS released a comprehensive plan to authorize the science-based removal of barred owls across certain portions of the spotted owl range in the Pacific Northwest. This management strategy was developed by the professionals at FWS, in collaboration with the effected state and tribal wildlife agencies and other important stakeholders, under the Biden Administration and is strongly supported by FWS in the Trump Administration, demonstrating that science-based wildlife management is not a partisan issue.

Since inception, S.J. Res. 69 was not to be taken at face value of “protecting owls”, but rather this was nothing more than a disguised effort by animal rights activists to ignore scientifically sound, yet difficult, wildlife management decisions. Read more

Imagine the progress of hawks and vultures migrating in the tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, and even topping a million during prime migration days when the sky fills with soaring Swainson’s Hawks, Turkey Vultures, and Broad-winged Hawks. This, as they migrate south along migration corridors stretching along the Gulf and Caribbean from Veracruz, Mexico to similar hawkwatch sites in Costa Rica and Panama on their way even farther south to wintering areas in Brazil, Argentina, and neighboring countries.

Some recent mega-high raptor and vulture counts to the south include Saturday’s totals near Veracruz, Mexico at Cardel that totaled 169,598, which included 6,866 Swainson’s Hawks, 162,034 Turkey Vultures, 353 American Kestrels, and 201 Broad-winged Hawks among a total of 11 raptor species. Read more

Michigan communities, utilities, educational campuses and health care campuses interested in being recognized as a Tree City, Tree Line or Tree Campus should apply before Dec. 31.

These annual recognition programs are sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation and administered in Michigan by the Department of Natural Resources’ Urban and Community Forestry Program. To become certified under one of these programs, applicants must meet specific standards established by the Arbor Day Foundation. Standards and instructions on how to apply can be found on each respective program’s webpage:

• Tree City USA.
• Tree Line USA.
• Tree Campus Higher Education.
• Tree Campus K-12.
• Tree Campus Healthcare.

The flagship Tree City USA program began in 1976 as a Bicentennial project to promote tree planting in urban areas and call attention to the economic, health and aesthetic benefits trees provide.

Last year, a record-breaking 131 Michigan communities and 17 Michigan campuses were recognized, with 13 communities receiving Growth Awards for completing additional activities to expand their community forestry programs. From the village of Michiana (population 200) to the city of Detroit (population 645,705), more than 37% of Michiganders reside in a Tree City USA community.

Communities applying for Tree City USA certification must have met the following standards in 2025: Read more

Governor Ron DeSantis highlighted the success of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Python Action Team – Removing Invasive Constrictors (PATRIC) program in achieving record-setting removal numbers of invasive Burmese pythons from Florida’s Everglades. The governor also called on funding for the program to be continued annually to build off of the state’s initial $2 million investment in 2025.

“FWC’s partnership with Inversa has supercharged the removal of invasive Burmese pythons from the Everglades,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “The new program accomplished more removals in July 2025 alone than in the entire year before. Our $2 million investment in python removal in the state budget has made this partnership possible, amplifying the success of the PATRIC program. We must now build on their achievements and continue investing in this proven strategy to protect the Everglades for many years to come.”

“Governor DeSantis has consistently been a champion for conservation and protecting the Everglades,” said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto. “Our partnership with Inversa and the Python Action Team Removing Invasive Constrictors (PATRIC) program highlights the milestones we’ve achieved against the invasive Burmese python, which will benefit generations to come.” Read more

Grosbeaks are another of the specialized finches that may visit northern feeding stations this winter, such as these female and male Evening Grosbeaks.

More birders are likely to experience the appearance of Purple Finches at their feeders this fall through early spring.

Recently published, The Stokes Guide to Finches of the United States and Canada is the new standard for anyone interested in North American finches.

Northern finches make up a significant number of species that visit feeders during fall and winter, including Purple Finches, Pine Siskins, Redpolls, Red Crossbills, and other impressive finches along with unrelated Red-breasted Nuthatches, Blue Jays, and Bohemian Waxwings. For many of us, it’s a special thrill if such exciting birds as Evening Grosbeaks or White-winged Crossbills find our feeding station, and many birders will travel to have a chance to see Pine Grosbeaks or Bohemian Waxwings when the opportunity arises. Every year is different, dictated by seed and berry production by trees in the boreal forest, so each fall we look forward to referencing the Annual Winter Finch Forecast! Read more

Visitors and residents in the northeastern Lower Peninsula may notice more clearcutting of aspen trees over the next year or two as the Michigan Department of Natural Resources speeds up harvests in a 30-square-mile area.

The change in the DNR’s forest management harvest planning will benefit both elk and deer and their fondness for young aspen.

Aspen is a resilient tree that regenerates naturally from underground shoots, or root suckers, without the need for replanting. Elk and deer browse on young aspen throughout the year, but primarily during the fall and winter when other food sources become scarce.

“We are finding that some of our aspen stands within this core elk range are not regenerating to meet our minimum standards,” said Matt Foster, manager of the DNR Forest Resources Division’s Atlanta Unit. Cutting will take place in that unit as well as the neighboring Pigeon River Country. “Regenerating aspen is nearly 100 percent successful in most cases, but browse pressure can have a negative impact on that.” Read more

The weather is slowly starting to cool as fall takes full effect in Michigan. There are a few things you can do to help prepare and protect your trees for the change of seasons:

• • Mulching: Add a new layer of mulch to better maintain moisture levels and buffer extreme temperature changes in the soil. Remember, doughnuts not volcanoes.
  • Fertilizing: Adding a slow-release fertilizer in the fall helps provide a nutrient boost over the winter and can promote root growth.
  • Watering: As temperatures drop and trees begin to head into dormancy, they don’t need as much water. You can water up until the first freeze, but make sure soils are just a little damp and not soaked.
  • Pruning: Now is a good time to prune out any dead, damaged, or diseased limbs in your trees.
  • Trunk protection: Sunscald or southwest damage occurs on young and thin barked trees in the winter. Bucks will scrape trees with their antlers, scraping off the bark and damaging the cambium. Tree guards can be placed around trunks to protect against this damage.
  • Inspections: Visual inspections can be done year-round, but this time of the year it might be easier to see changes in your tree.

Read more