A man was hospitalized after an encounter with a grizzly bear on Thursday evening approximately 2 miles north of Columbia Falls in Flathead County.

A 72-year-old man was alone picking huckleberries on Flathead National Forest lands off the North Fork Road when he reported encountering a bear that charged and attacked him. The individual shot and killed the bear with a handgun.

FWP wardens and bear specialists responded to the incident and confirmed that an adult female grizzly bear was killed. FWP is working to verify if any cubs are present. FWP determined it to be a surprise defensive encounter. Read more

As the sun rose over the central Florida prairie on July 16th, a tiny bird took a tentative hop into conservation history. If you blinked, you might have missed the release of the 1,000th conservation-bred Florida grasshopper sparrow into the wild, marking a major milestone for one of North America’s most endangered birds. Accompanied by nine other sparrows, the 1,000th sparrow joined its wild counterparts at Avon Park Air Force Range.

A decade ago the Florida grasshopper sparrow population was on the brink of extinction due to habitat loss and other threats. In response, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, White Oak Conservation, Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida, U.S. Air Force and other partners launched a comprehensive conservation and recovery program.

“The recovery and release program diverted the extinction of the Florida grasshopper sparrow,” said Adrienne Fitzwilliam, lead sparrow research scientist at the FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. “The success of such a considerable effort has been possible due to continued collaboration.” Partners have dedicated substantial resources to the recovery of the Florida grasshopper sparrow, including funds from the foundation’s “Conserve Wildlife” license plate, and it’s having an impact. Read more

Join Michigan Department of Natural Resources Roscommon Equipment Center staff Oct. 7-11 at the state’s Forest Fire Experiment Station for an in-depth firefighting equipment workshop. Register soon; space is limited to 16 attendees.

The workshop, which provides equipment demonstrations and networking opportunities, is ideal for fire department chiefs, equipment program leaders and other wildland fire professionals.

Activities will include:

• Facility tour – Learn about available design and testing assistance.
• Field day – Operate Michigan DNR equipment on experiment station testing grounds.
• Off-site visit to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario – A valid passport or enhanced driver’s license is needed for international border crossing.
• Presentation – Each attendee should prepare a 10- to 15-minute presentation related to fire equipment to foster idea sharing.

To register, email Dave Stockoski by Aug. 31.

The DNR will provide ground transportation to and from Roscommon from the Traverse City Airport and to field activities. Hotel blocks will be arranged by DNR staff in Roscommon, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and Traverse City. Flights, hotel and meal expenses will be covered by attendees.

The Roscommon Equipment Center program serves state and local firefighting agencies across the nation through specialized equipment testing, design and development.

Learn about the REC ?

Wildlife officers from the Arizona Game and Fish Department on Saturday released to the wild a mountain lion that had wandered onto the campus of the Tucson Medical Center on Friday and became entrapped in an enclosed courtyard.

The department was alerted to the presence of the subadult male mountain lion around 10:30 a.m. Friday. With the assistance of officers from the Tucson Police Department, the wildlife officers were able to successfully dart and tranquilize the mountain lion without injury around 12:30 p.m. and moved it to the department’s Tucson regional office in a transport carrier.

Game and Fish officials determined that because the mountain lion was healthy and had not exhibited any previous nuisance behavior, aggression toward humans, or other unacceptable behaviors, it was fitted with a GPS radio collar and released Saturday at a location in the wild away from the Tucson area.

Texas company earns spotlight offering unique designs and exceptional value in the cooler industry.

Iceland Coolers, a leading manufacturer of high-performance coolers, is making significant waves in the market with its diverse and rugged product lineup. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Abilene, Texas, Iceland Coolers has established itself as a leader in the industry, recognized for its durable, feature-rich coolers available at competitive prices. The brand’s recent catalog has not only met but exceeded customer expectations, contributing to its impressive growth over the past two years.

According to the company, Iceland Coolers has built a reputation for providing coolers engineered to withstand the most challenging conditions on earth. Their product offerings, including the Viking Series, Longship Series, Berserker Legacy, and Saga Soft Series, are designed with both functionality and affordability in mind. The company’s focus on delivering more features and accessories at a lower price point than competitors has been a key driver of their success.

Key Product Highlights Read more

Game Warden K9 Ash and Game Warden Kayle Hamilton located a missing 75-year-old man who had fallen off a ledge and had been missing for four days.

Michael Altmaier of New Sharon had not been seen since Monday, when he left his New Sharon residence and was seen driving on the Colby Miller Road in Wilton. He was headed to a scheduled meeting in Weld, but never appeared. His car was later discovered last night by Mount Blue State Park Staff at the Mount Blue State Park Scenic Overlook which is off the Center Hill Road in Weld.

The Maine Warden Service began searching this morning at daylight. At approximately 3:45 p.m., Game Warden Kayle Hamilton and K9 Ash located Altmaier along a bog approximately ¾ of a mile from where his vehicle was located. It is believed Altmaier had fallen down over a ledged embankment Monday and likely became disoriented and ended up in the area of the bog that evening where he eventually had fallen and was unable to get up.

Game Wardens, search volunteers from MASAR (Maine Association for Search and Rescue) and a paramedic were able to get to Altmaier’s location and provide initial assessment and first aid. At approximately 6:00 pm, a Maine Forest Service helicopter was able to land in the bog and transport Altmaier out to an awaiting ambulance where he was transported to a local hospital where he was admitted for observation overnight. Emergency Rescue Personnel said Altmaier was in surprisingly good condition despite spending the last 4 days laying in the area of the bog.

The Maine Warden Service was assisted in the search and rescue by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, Maine Association for Search and Rescue, Maine Search and Rescue Dogs, Bureau of Parks and Land Staff, Maine Forest Service, NorthStar EMS, and the Weld Fire Department.