Outdoor news

Park talk

Jami Belt, coordinator of Glacier National Park’s Citizen Science Program, will present a free talk on “Citizen science in Glacier National Park: Boots on the ground to help monitor Glacier’s wildlife and plants” at Montana House, in Apgar Village, on Saturday, May 24, at 5 p.m. A reception will follow. Reservations are required by calling 888-5393 or e-mailing 1960mthouse@qwestoffice.net.

Park raptors

The Glacier Institute will offer a course on “Glacier Birds of Prey: East Side” on Thursday, June 19. The course will cover life histories, habits, physical characteristics, distribution and management policies of all 29 species of birds of prey found in the Park, focusing on bald eagles. Participants will meet at the Glacier Park Field Camp Meeting Hall at 8 a.m. To register, call 755-1211 or visit online at www.glacierinstitute.org. Cost is $65.

Lake monitors

The Whitefish Lake Institute needs volunteers to help with the Northwest Montana Lakes Volunteer Monitoring Network, including lake property owners, summer cabin owners, recreationists and others. There are currently 42 lakes in the program, and many are in need of a volunteer. Volunteers will receive training and equipment but need their own boat. Spring training will take place at City Beach in Whitefish on Sunday, May 18, from 2 to 3 p.m. and Tuesday, May 20, from 5 to 6 p.m. For more information, visit online at www.nwmtlvmn.org or call 406-862-4327 or e-mail josh@whitefishlake.org.

Trail volunteers

The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation will celebrate National Trails Day with work on the Stanton Lake and Rescue Basin trails in the Great Bear Wilderness. Volunteers will meet at the Hungry Horse Ranger Station in Hungry Horse on Saturday, June 7, at 8 a.m. Registration closes on May 24. For more information, visit online at www.bmwf.org or call Rebecca Powell at 387-3808.

Outdoor classes

The Glacier Institute will offer classes on wildflowers and loons in June. Steve Wirt will teach about “Orchids: Glacier’s Precious Beauties” on Friday, June 13, Ellen Horowitz will lead a course on “Spring Wildflowers” on Saturday, June 14, and Denny Olson will teach about “The Uncommon Loon” on Saturday, June 14. All courses include field trips. To register, call 406-755-1211 or visit online at www.glacierinstitute.org. The courses are each $65 per person.

Public comment

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is seeking public comment on changes to commercial use rules at state fishing access sites, wildlife management areas and state parks. Among the proposed changes are clarifying that commercial fishing access site permits are not valid at state parks, no longer requiring permits for individual commercial photographers, listing the grounds for which a commercial use permit could be suspended or revoked, allowing a permit holder to qualify for a fee adjustment by donating all proceeds beyond expenses from an activity or event, and renaming the “Restricted Use Permit” the “Commercial Use Permit.” A public hearing on the rule changes will be held at FWP offices in Helena on June 3, at 6 p.m. Public comment will be accepted through June 13. To view or comment, visit online at http://fwp.mt.gov then click Public Notices. Public comment can also be e-mailed to FWPCommercialUseComments@mt.gov or mailed to FWP Commercial Use Rules, P.O. Box 200701, Helena MT 59620-0701.

Hunting and fishing regs

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will host meetings across the state in May to review and discuss recent recommendations from an advisory council tasked with adjusting Montana’s hunting and fishing licenses and fees. The recommendations would provide an additional $6.25 million a year to help deal with budget cuts to fish and wildlife management programs. The recommendations are aimed at a simplified licensing system; standardized discounts for youth, seniors and disabled hunters; and a revamped base price structure and other adjustments to provide a fair and stable source of revenue for the state’s fish and wildlife conservation efforts. The meeting at the Region 1 office, 490 North Meridian Road, in Kalispell, will take place on Monday, May 19, at 7 p.m. The recommendations will be available online at http://fwp.mt.gov on April 28. Click “Licensing and Funding Advisory Council.”

Harlequin ducks

The Glacier Institute will offer a course on “Glacier’s Harlequins” on Saturday, May 17, starting at 8:30 a.m. John Ashley, who earned his bachelor’s in biology from the University of Montana, will lead the group along 2-3 miles on Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road. To register, call 755-1211 or visit online at www.glacierinstitute.org. Cost is $65 per person.

Wildlife babies

The Montana Wild Wings Recover Center in Kalispell will hold a free “Baby Shower” open house at the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Region 1 office, 490 Meridian Road, in Kalispell, on Saturday, May 17, from noon to 3 p.m. as a donation-based fundraiser for the center. Birds that could be on display include a peregrine falcon, American kestrel falcon, ferruginous hawk, Swainson’s hawk, red-tailed hawk, northern pygmy owl, saw-whet owl, great horned owl, great grey owl and a northern barred owl. For more information, visit online at www.wildwingsrecovery.org or on their Facebook page.

Wild Mile

The 39th annual Bigfork Whitewater Festival will take place on the “Wild Mile” of the Swan River, above downtown Bigfork, on Saturday and Sunday, May 24-25. The festival will include a whitewater slalom, down river and a boater-cross race on a challenging whitewater section rated Class IV to Class V. Raft competition and a triathlon are also planned. The film “Big Drop” will be shown at The Roost in downtown Bigfork on Saturday, May 3, at 8 p.m. as a fundraiser for the whitewater festival. For more information, visit online at www.bigforkwhitewaterfestival.com.