Flathead Wildlife, Inc.

05/10/2026

The call of the common loon evokes wild Montana. Montana has about 56 pairs of common loons, less than half successfully nest each year, producing 1-2 chicks per pair. Part of the problem is that nesting loons are easily pushed off their nest by boats that approach closer than 140 yards. If the boat lingers in the area, the eggs or chicks may be lost to cold temperatures or bird predation. The tremolo call and approaching loons usually indicate you are too close and should leave the area.

The Montana Loon Working Group and Montana FWP post floating bouys around nesting areas, advising boaters to stay clear. Montana Loon Society president Lynn Kelly and Flathead Wildlife president Jim Vashro along with Sandi Vashro and Susan Kujawa posted bouys on Island Lake west of Lost Trail Refuge. Island Lake has 3 nesting pairs, one pair was already nesting. The narrow elongated shape of the lake, along with recent shoreline residential development make it challenging for nesting.

Also of note, the strong wind storm in December laid down acres of trees around Island Lake. Residents on one road had to be rescued by Search and Rescue personnel with chain saws.

05/10/2026

Wildhorse Island is a 2300 acre State Park in Flathead Lake. For centuries, fire thinned out the ponderosa and douglas fir trees on the island and preserved the remnant Palouse Prairie on part of the island. The last 100 years if fire suppression has encouraged the spread of conifers, creating thickets that crowd wildlife browse, increase fire danger and encroach on the prairie. Backcountry Hunters and Anglers organized a conifer removal project with State Parks. Flathead Willdlife members Brent Mitchell, Mike Valler and Jim Vashro helped out along with Ben Long. In the pictures, Park ranger Amy Grout gives directions, you can see the desired open stands beyond her. A picture shows a thicket forming along with Brent and Mike removing conifers. Afterwards, BHA treated the crew to lunch.

05/10/2026

Dry Bridge Pond is located in Kalispell. The adjacent City Park is known as “The Sledding Gully”. Hooked on Fishing is a nationwide program, hosted by FWP in Montana. The program teaches fishing skills, fish biology, aquatic habitat and water quality in a year long program to mostly 4th graders. About 2,000 students participate in the Flathead. The Hedges School HOF classes enjoy a special program started nearly 20 years ago. The students walk to Dry Bridge Pond to greet a truck from Creston national Fish Hatchery carrying about 450 catchable rainbow trout. The students are given a talk about fish biology, hatchery procedures and warned to not plant fish on their own. The students then line up to get buckets of water with fish they carry down to dump in the pond. Lots of yelling and splashing. Here, Flathead Wildlife member Mike Valler makes sure only fish go in the pond, not kids or buckets.

The students are told about “giving back”, in part by planting fish. Then the kids are given bags provided by Flathead Wildlife to pick up litter in the sledding Gully, then given ice cream treats before walking back to school. Many of the kids live in the neighborhood, they hike or bike in after school or after dinner with their family to fish for “their fish”.

04/21/2026

Mark your calendars! Join the fun!

01/13/2026

Do not miss this month's meeting for a special showing of a video by the talented Chris Peterson called "Winter Song".

Conservation and Public Land

11/29/2025

Details for December's Monthly Meeting - Public is Welcome!

Conservation and Public Land

11/29/2025

http://flatheadwildlife.org/flathead-wildlife-members-go-hunting

Conservation and Public Land

11/29/2025

http://flatheadwildlife.org/trace-uskoksi

Conservation and Public Land

11/29/2025

http://flatheadwildlife.org/first-time-hunters-2025

Conservation and Public Land

11/29/2025

http://flatheadwildlife.org/brynn-kaarto

Conservation and Public Land