grizzly bears

Environmental groups sued the Kootenai National Forest today, June 30, over its approval of a controversial logging project in Northwest Montana.

The Kootenai National Forest finalized a contentious logging project on Tuesday after a court-ordered evaluation found that the Black Ram project won’t severely impact grizzly bears and other threatened species. But environmental groups are pushing back against that finding.

The nearly 5,000-acre Knotty Pine project would include roughly 3,000 acres of commercial logging as well 40 miles of road maintenance and road building. WildEarth Guardians in a lawsuit filed in federal court in Missoula argue that work will harm the local grizzly bear population.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks says the three- to four-year-old bear killed four calves. A different grizzly was recently reported in the Augusta area, and state wildlife officials urge residents to continue to exercise caution.

A hiker missing in the Livingston area was found dead Friday after an apparent grizzly bear attack, according to a Facebook post from the Park County Sheriff's office.

Yellowstone officials say a pilot conducting wildlife research on Monday saw an adult bear walking in a meadow in the west-central part of the park.

The easement would protect public access and recreation on private timberlands around the Thompson Chain of Lakes in Flathead, Lincoln and Sanders counties.

Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon filed a petition this week to remove federal protections on grizzlies in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

State wildlife officials with the help of a Flathead Valley conservation group have acquired nearly 800 acres along the Flathead River near Columbia Falls. The Bad Rock Wildlife Management Area is one of the last undeveloped tracts of land along the Flathead River. The acquisition will protect winter range for wildlife.

Missoula District Court Judge Donald Molloy ruled that the forest service improperly exempted the Stonewall project from management rules aimed at maintaining elk herds in the area.