Little enthusiasm for TV in North Fork

Sometimes my mind draws a blank and I miss writing a column. Sometimes so many things happen on The North Fork I don’t know where to begin. This is one of those weeks.

Some slob of a road hunter gut shot a beautiful two point buck and left it laying within 50 yards of a resident’s house. By the time it was discovered the meat was spoiled and locals carried it up “remote Trail Creek” to feed the predators. We are watching and The Landowners Associations offers a reward of up to $500 for the arrest and conviction of any poacher.

Landowners Association President Randy Kenyon recently received an email asking Randy to discuss a possible “unscripted television show” on The North Fork and to give him contacts with other residents as well. Following is the meat of that email:

“I’m writing you as part of an outreach effort to meet the residents of Polebridge. I’ve been speaking with Will at the Mercantile Store quite a bit … and it’s becoming more and more clear that Polebridge could be a good fit for a television show. I’m trying to reach as many of the residents as I can to get a sense of how everyone lives and what they are like. I’d love to set up an interview with you … and I’m hoping you may be able to connect me with other residents as well.”

No one so far wants this to happen. One resident said, “If anyone from that outfit asks to get in touch with me, I’ll tell them I’m busy brushing my teeth or folding Kleenex or something.” I told Randy I would talk with anyone about The North Fork. He would not like my opinion. Anyone with comments, pro or con, should contact Randy Kenyon. If you contact me I will pass your feelings on to Randy, but I might also use the information in this column. Write me at P.O. Box 3, Columbia Falls, MT 59912 or email lwilson@aboutmontana.net.

As regular readers know, I have been concerned about grizzly bears. I think we have plenty on The North Fork and they are seen way to often habituated is what I consider the biggest risk. This could result in tragic consequences for humans, but especially for bears. Last week I reported about the ATV seat destroyed when the ATV was left out in the woods overnight.

This week I heard that a private barn in Glacier Park near Polebridge was broken into and chickens were killed. Later workmen at the barn encountered the bear and its cub. As a result a live trap captured the cub but the mother could not be caught so the cub was released.

Operative word here is “heard.” I will try and get information from Park officials this week and share the whole story with you next week. In the meantime—be careful out there. Mother nature and some humans can be real mean.