Opinion / A Place For All
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MEC celebrates National Cooperative Month
When we think of October, trick or treating, pumpkins and fall foliage come to mind. But at Missoula Electric Cooperative (MEC) and fellow cooperatives across the country, October is notable for...
Ninety-mile migrations and a new road
Native westslope cutthroat and bull trout come to the Copper Creek tributary of the Blackfoot River for the cold, clean water. Copper Creek is especially attractive to spawning trout because...
2019 fire season transitions to prescribed burning
The 2019 fire season has come to a close. There were 142 wildfires suppressed in west central Montana. In our communities, 2019 will be remembered as a welcome respite from wildfire smoke. Wildfire co...
Landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities*
Most of us have or will rent a residence at some point in our lives. It can be overwhelming dealing with finances, paperwork, documents, understanding your rights and what’s expected as a tenant. It’s just as important to know about your landlord...
Buried treasure: Fall planted bulbs are spring garden gems
As the season tapers into fall this month, we wrap up another beautiful Montana summer. While our gardens may be getting ready for their winter's rest, a little planning ahead this time of year can...
Blackfoot Challenge welcomes Seth Wilson as Executive Director
OVANDO - The Blackfoot Challenge is pleased to announce the hiring of Seth Wilson as Executive Director. Wilson assumed the position full-time on Sept. 3, concluding the organization's eight-month...
Beaver colonies: A wonderful home for wildlife
Immersing yourself in a beaver colony is something all outdoorsy people should experience. There are few habitats in Montana that more resemble a jungle than a good beaver colony. Explore one and you...
A new face in conservation: Intern Tayler Templin
If you've visited Nature Conservancy land in the Seeley-Swan area in the past few months, there's a good chance that you've run into Tayler Templin. An avid camper, hiker, angler and photographer,...
How will you live your one wild and precious life?
As I further advance into elder years, I have more appreciation for this poem by Mary Oliver. "The Summer Day" Who made the world? Who made the swan, and the black bear? Who made the grasshopper?...
Double Arrow Ranch: Preserving the legacy of the valley
SEELEY LAKE - Those of us who have chosen the Seeley Lake area as a place to visit or live have many reasons: the beauty of our mountains, solitude whenever we desire and neighbors who share our friendship and values. Part of what makes our area...
Risk and recreation on wildlands - Offering a broader perspective
For several years there has been an active dialogue regarding risks associated with recreation in wildlands and concern for the safety of people who choose to do so. Much of this discussion has been...
Elderberries: In the wild and in your landscape
This time of year, native elderberries really stand out in Missoula County with their fragrant delicate flowers in full bloom. You might have seen them along roadsides, trails or maybe in your own...
New invasive grass invades Montana
Noxious weeds have destructive impacts on Montana's landscape including displacing native plant species, increasing soil erosion and decreasing wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities....
Bob Marshall's epic trip of 1928: The final two days
A legendary advocate for wild country, 27-year-old Bob Marshall hiked an astounding 288 miles in eight days during the summer of 1928. Much of his arduous backcountry trip took place in the...
Requests from the Chief's desk
As summer is approaching the seasonal population influx around Seeley Lake begins. The campgrounds and outdoor activities will become much more active as the community wakes up. This increase in movement begins an increase in our highway traffic....
Our corner of the world
In New Delhi, India, the summer air is heavy with humidity while the stifling heat serves to wring every last bit of magic out of a gin and tonic, long on gin, but short-changed with precious ice....
The local real estate summer selling season beginning strong
2019 SALES START ON PACE WITH 2018 RECORD YEAR The market continues to be strong and very consistent in sales and upward value trends in Seeley Lake and Condon. The local market is maintaining a great...
Keeping bears and people safe
Each spring, there's a subset of grizzly bears that act like teenagers cut loose from home for the first time. With mother bears turning their attention to mating or younger cubs, the two- or...
Loon migration and Montana's common loons
Prior to John James Audubon's birth in 1785, not much was known about bird migration. Some people believed birds went underground in winter, hibernating like bears. Some thought waterfowl spent the...
A branch above the rest
With spring weather teasing us occasionally, I can't help but think what a difference a year makes! Missoula Electric Cooperative's (MEC's) 2019 winter maintenance season, which runs from November to... Full story
Ventenata - An annual pain in the grass
A new annual invasive grass is on the horizon, literally. Just down the highway from the town of Seeley Lake, Ventenata dubia is taking hold along our roadways. Though Ventenata is newly arriving in...
The importance of collaboration on the North Fork
The North Fork Blackfoot River is an iconic Montana River. Flowing through the heart of the Blackfoot Watershed, the North Fork is a stronghold for native bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout owin...
Fire Adapted Community? Everyone's invited!
In recent years, agencies and homeowners alike have raised the question "How can a fire adapted community benefit me?" It's not until we start asking around to other communities in the northwest do...
Take the opportunity to tent it
I know how you're feeling...Spring is here! Mountain Bluebirds have returned. Robins are prominently flying around town. A few early-season bugs splattered on my windshield on a recent drive. The...
Ridge-top to ridge-top conservation through education
Over the last few months, watershed students young and old experienced a variety of Blackfoot Challenge program work first-hand. In the following paragraphs we'll guide you through their journey, each...
