Blogs from Missoula, Montana, United States, North America - page 5

For over 30 years management biologists have been annually surveying elk herds during the spring from fixed-wing aircraft in west-central Montana. Observers record the ratio of cow elk to calf elk to measure the productivity of the elk herd, i.e., high calf:cow ratios equate to a productive, growing elk herd. Since the late 1980s biologists have observed a progressive decline in the annual production of elk calves. My research empirically tested 3 hypotheses in an attempt to understand this trend: A) calf declines are the result of nutritional deficiencies resulting from high elk densities and/or changing habitat conditions; B) calf declines are the result of predation resulting from an increase in the abundance and distribution of a suite of predators; C) calf declines are the result of an aberrantly low proportion of mature bulls within herds ... read more

We all got out of Walla Walla and have landed safely in Missoula. We've now passed over the highest of the mountains we will cover on this trip, though we have some more to go. We decided to launch based on best available information, and to continue based on en route Flight Service weather and some local views. We had filed for S95 - Lewiston - Missoula -- Helena, with the general intention of stopping at Missoula at least to consider whether or not to go further. Just after departure We did indeed thread through scattered clouds around 5500 that cleared up as we moved eastward. For a while, it was smooth air and really lovely flying. Bob had been prepared to call it quits at Lewiston, but things were looking good at that point, and ... read more

We will try to get all the pictures posted tonight......... read more

Well, I spent the 12th through the 15th with Patrick's family. Patrick had to fight fire aka work and/or spend some time on call with the forest circus. So, I spent alot of time with Cody and Wyatt. I actually babysat for a few hours!!! Y'all believe that??? Wyatt had his moments and I was happy to give him back to his mother. Missoula was still a fine town and fall is a special time in Montana...But, time to get on the road. I think I missed my 4x6 tent...... read more

We left Oregon on May 31, after a great month at the beautiful Nehalem Bay State Park, and after an overnight stay in a neat little Oceanside campground on the Washington coast, headed for southeastern Washington to spend a few days with some friends, Glen and Lori, from Vancouver, and Terry and Linda, from Bonners Ferry, Idaho, all of whom had worked with us as volunteers in Oregon last year. We stayed for 3 days at the Yakima Nation RV Resort, a nice resort and casino in Toppenish, WA, then we all moved about 100 miles east to the little town of Walla Walla. It’s hard to take seriously any place with a name like Walla Walla, but in 2006, Money Magazine named it the best place in America to retire. It used to be ... read more