Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks trapped and euthanized three black bears in Missoula that were responsible for repeated conflicts in Missoula neighborhoods. The conflicts began last fall and picked up again first thing this spring.

FWP wildlife specialists reported that the female and two subadults began getting into garbage, bird feeders, garages, and other attractants last fall in Missoula’s Rattlesnake neighborhood, as well as in some temporary camps and tents along the Clark Fork River in Missoula.

FWP and local residents worked to secure attractants last fall, but even after the winter, the family group of bears remained in neighborhoods and around homes and local businesses in the middle of town, exhibiting bold behavior that indicates they were conditioned to these food sources.

Once bears become conditioned to garbage and other attractants, it is a habit that is very hard to break and causes human safety concerns. Unfortunately, when bears start showing extreme food conditioned behavior, the only way to prevent further conflict is through euthanization. Read more

The warm spring weather means it’s time for open houses, outdoor weddings and picnics in the park. Sometimes, these occasions can be less fun with some uninvited guests – spongy moth caterpillars. Nature’s literal “party poopers,” these very hungry caterpillars cluster on oaks and other deciduous trees to munch on their leaves, raining BB-sized pellets of frass (droppings) on humans gathered below.

The good news for those planning outdoor events is that spongy moth populations will continue their downward trend in many areas in 2024. The outbreak that started in Michigan in 2019 and peaked in 2021 has been steadily declining for the last few years.

In 2023, the Department of Natural Resources conducted aerial surveys of nearly 20 million acres across the state, mapping 156,000 acres of defoliation, or leaf loss, due to spongy moth caterpillar feeding. While the number may seem high, it is less than half of the 386,000 acres recorded in 2022, and far short of the 1.3 million acres damaged in 2021. Read more

A man searching for antlers shot and killed a grizzly bear on April 25 during an encounter on private land northwest of Wolf Creek.

The man was walking along a ridge covered with low trees and brush with his two dogs at his side and the wind at his back while searching for shed antlers. After seeing a fresh grizzly bear track in a snow patch, he continued along his path and a few minutes later he first saw the bear standing near the top of the ridge about 20 yards away. The bear dropped to all four legs and charged the man, who drew his handgun and fired five shots from distances about 30 feet to 10 feet, grazing the bear with a one shot and hitting and killing it with another shot. The man was not injured in the encounter. He was not carrying bear spray.

The adult female grizzly was in good condition weighing around 300 pounds and was estimated to be 12 years old. The bear had a single cub-of-the-year nearby that was later captured by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks bear management specialists and taken to FWP’s wildlife rehabilitation center in Helena. FWP is currently looking for placement for the cub at an accredited zoo.

The incident remains under investigation by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

In this episode of the award-winning “Wildtalk” podcast, we talk to Bill Scullon about all things habitat in the Upper Peninsula region of the state, fly away with a discussion about the indigo bunting and wrap up the episode with a chat about the red fox. Pete Kailing also stops in to talk about hunting and trapping opportunities and more that are available in May.

Don’t forget to participate in the wildlife quiz part of the show for a chance to win a “Wildtalk” podcast camp mug. The deadline for submission is May 15, so don’t delay. These mugs are exclusive and not available for purchase, so be sure to listen and submit your answer via email to DNR-Wildlife@Michigan.gov with the subject line “Mug me.” Keep an ear out for the June episode, when we will announce the lucky winners.

Your wildlife question can be part of the show Read more

A total of $5.5 million was allocated to dozens of wildlife-related projects at the recent annual Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Endangered Species Mitigation Fund meeting on April 23.

The Endangered Species Mitigation Fund was created in 1997 to direct funds toward species and projects that will proactively help to prevent Endangered Species Act listings in Utah. The Utah Wildlife Action Plan identifies species and habitats that are in need of conservation attention and further helps prioritize funding decisions.

“Proactive conservation helps keep Utah’s native species healthy,” DWR Assistant Habitat Section Chief Paul Thompson said. “Healthy populations don’t need protection under the Endangered Species Act, which in turn keeps management decisions at the state level and reduces additional federal oversight and economic restrictions that can come with Endangered Species Act listings.”

Roughly 60 projects will be funded by the Endangered Species Mitigation Fund over the next fiscal year (from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025). The $5.5 million is an increase from past years, due to an additional $2 million in funding that was approved by the Utah Legislature during the 2024 legislative session. Read more

On the hunt for morels, fiddlehead ferns, and ramps

By Jim Edlund

Another winter has departed from the Upper Midwestern landscape. Stream trout season is open; turkeys are gobbling; crappies have moved into shallow bays; and thousands upon thousands are chasing willing walleyes on rivers.

I can remember learning as a kid that blooming lilacs and oak leaves the size of a squirrel’s ear signaled two springtime activities: shallow-water crappie fishing and morel mushroom hunting.

With a bead on the weather, you know it’s morel hunting time when night-time temps are consistent in the high 40s to low 50s at night with daytime temps in the 60s, occasional rain, and a return to soil temperatures between 45 and 50 degrees.

If you’ve never hunted morel mushrooms, it’s a great excuse to explore the woods and waters. And it’s hard to put a price tag on potential bounty, although fresh morel mushrooms can fetch between $20 to $100 a pound depending on availability.

At the same time you’re hunting morels, there’s a good chance you’ll stumble into delicate fiddlehead ferns and wild ramps, especially near streams and creeks. Read more