Fisheries biologists with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks are monitoring an area of the Madison River where a number of dead fish have been observed.  

A cause of the mortalities has not yet been determined. Biologists have collected many samples from dead and dying fish and submitted them for testing.  

The dead fish were first reported to FWP on May 18 by anglers floating in Beartrap Canyon. FWP staff immediately went to the area and found several dead mountain whitefish. Since then, FWP staff have floated Beartrap Canyon and walked the banks of the river downstream of the Warm Springs Boat Launch each day to gather information on the mortality.  

By 3 p.m. on May 20, FWP staff had observed dead fish over 10 miles from just upstream of Ennis Dam to the Warm Springs Boat Launch on the Madison River. These include about 814 whitefish, 11 brown trout, 6 rainbow trout, and three suckers so far.
 
“We are working hard monitoring the situation and investigating the causes of the mortalities,” said FWP Fisheries Division Administrator Eileen Ryce. “We appreciate the reports from the public on the dead fish they’re seeing, and that’s been an important part of the monitoring we’ve done.”  

FWP staff will continue to monitor conditions on the Madison River. More information will be provided as it becomes available. If anglers see dead or dying fish, they can call the FWP Bozeman office at 577-7900. 

Anglers can help reduce stress for fish by following these practices when catching and releasing fish:  
• Land the fish quickly.  
• Wet your hands before handling the fish.  
• Keep the fish in water as much as possible.  
• Remove the hook gently. Using artificial lures with single and barbless hooks can make hook removal faster and easier. If the fish is hooked deeply, you may have to snip the line at the fish’s mouth or consider keeping it if regulations allow. 
• Let the fish recover before releasing it.

Aside from helping in alleviating muscle pain, migraines, menstrual cramps, and back pain, heat can help reduce pain caused by other ailments. Yet there is always the question of what is the most convenient way to supply heat to the affected area. The answer is microwaveable heating pads.

A microwaveable heating pad is a safe and convenient alternative to hot water bags. It's easy to apply and reheat, and you don’t need to risk yourself getting scalded when pouring hot water.

Heat therapy has been in use for years and is available in a variety of forms, and it has been commonly used in alternative medicine: acupuncture, chiropractic, and energy healing. As those practices rely on heat therapy, practitioners always have microwaveable healing pads handy. Aside from specialists, common folk also use these heating pads as a home remedy to relieve pain fast.

Currently, the market offers a wide range of electric and microwave heating pads. However, this article will focus solely on the latter. Without further ado, here are some reasons why you need microwaveable heating pads:

1. It May Ease Soreness
Heat therapy sessions may be beneficial for relaxing tired or tight muscles. There are many potential benefits of a heating pad. A few of them are better sleep, pain relief, and improved blood circulation.

To reap those benefits, start with heating the pad up in the microwave according to the user manual. After that, put the heating pad directly on the area where the pain is radiating. Let it sit there for a while to experience relief until it gets to room temperature.

While heating pads are mostly used in heat therapy sessions, some of them can be used like a cold-water bag. You can put them in the freezer and let them cool down fast. When it hits the right temperature, you can apply it on fresh wounds and sore muscles as well.

Note that when a wound is fresh, cold therapy may stop the pain from getting worse and stop the cells that transmit a signal to the brain that the specific body part is hurt. However, also remember that before you perform this type of therapy, make sure that you get your doctor’s approval first. On the other hand, check the manual or consult your doctor as well if you’re unsure when to use ice or heat on your sore muscles.

2. It Is Safe And May Be Effective
Heat wraps are safe to wear and may have therapeutic effects on the body. However, you still have to handle microwave heating pads carefully after it’s done heating up inside the microwave. Also, always make sure to follow the manual to ensure you won’t damage them or get yourself burned or scalded.

On the other hand, unlike disposable packs made of plastic, most microwaveable pads are made of 100% cotton. There are a variety of pads that are filled with different organic materials. You don’t need to worry too much about allergic reactions as long as you have no problems with cotton. If you want to see one being reviewed, you might want to view this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvjEySxO0hE.

3. It May Improve Health Conditions
Another reason you need a microwaveable heating pad is that it may improve your health condition. Some of the health conditions that may benefit from using heating pads are the following:

• Lower Back Pain: You can wrap the pads around your back to relieve pain and relax your muscles.

• Arthritis Pain: The warmth penetrates deep into the skin, alleviating sore joints caused by arthritis. Blood flow is stimulated, causing pain to subside. If your arthritis is in your knees, you might want to search more about what you need to know about your knees, so you can find ways to keep them healthy.

• Shoulder And Neck Pain: By heating the area around your shoulder and neck muscles, blood flow increases and the pain eases.


• Menstrual Cramps: Applying a warm pack on the lower abdominal area can relieve cramps during periods.

• Migraines And Headaches: The hot pad can be wrapped around the neck to relieve tension headaches caused by tense muscles.

• Earache: Warm compresses can provide immediate relief for earaches. Researchers found that moist heat around the ears may help you relax and reduce the pain.

Conclusion
Hopefully, you’ve found this article informative. Its goal is to let you understand how and why you need microwaveable heating pads. This simple device is often used by those who want to have instant relief at the comfort of their homes. It’s more convenient than the regular water bags, safer to use, and can be used anywhere in your body as it can be easily wrapped around.

A collection of materials of the noted wildlife researcher and conservationist Frank Cooper Craighead Jr. is now available for the public to view at Montana State University’s Library.

The collection, which is available for the public to view and use for research in the MSU Library’s Archives and Special Collections, includes original research notes, field data, manuscripts, published reports and books. In all, it contains approximately 40 boxes of material. The MSU Library acquired the collection from Craighead’s sons, Lance and Charlie Craighead, in 2019.

The bulk of the collection is related to Craighead’s work on grizzly bears and Yellowstone National Park. Spanning from the early 1930s up until Craighead’s death in 2001, the papers detail Frank and his twin brother John’s work in creating radio-tracking techniques to learn about the movement and behavior of Yellowstone grizzlies, which contributed to a deeper understanding of the bears and how they behaved in the park. Their work led to the widespread use of radio-tracking in all sorts of animals all over the world. 

The papers also include drafts of a survival manual written for troops during World War II, manuscripts for animal science books and research in support of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Other items document the Craigheads’ contributions to survival training, raptor studies and environmental conservation.  

According to Frank Craighead’s New York Times obituary, he and John Craighead were both prolific wildlife researchers and conservationists who grew up near Washington, D.C., but later moved to Moose, Wyoming. In 1959, Yellowstone National Park officials asked the twins to study grizzly bears. They agreed, and, using collars and transmitters that they built themselves, the Craigheads were the first to use radio telemetry to track the movements and behavior of grizzly bears and elk in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

They joined the Navy in World War II and were assigned to design and implement a survival training program. They also conducted research on birds of prey and broader ecosystems and helped write the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, which was created by Congress in 1968 to preserve certain rivers with outstanding natural, cultural and recreational values in a free-flowing condition.

After an attempt at a career in federal agencies, in 1965 Craighead founded the Craighead Institute, an applied science and research organization that designs and manages research projects in support of conservation in the Northern Rockies and around the world. The institute is now located in Bozeman.

Kenning Arlitsch, dean of the MSU Library, said the Craighead papers will pique the curiosity of individuals interested in environmental science and wildlife biology, but they will also be of more general interest.

“Frank and John Craighead developed new methods for studying bears and other wildlife that are still relevant to researchers today, but you don’t have to be a wildlife researcher to enjoy this collection and the adventurous and impactful lives of the brothers,” Arlitsch said. 

Archivist Sophia Phillips and the department’s student assistants prepared the collection for research. Along the way, they found items in the collection that surprised them, including letters from an Indian prince and what they called “alarming” photographs of grizzlies charging researchers in the field.  

Other library staff who have worked with the collection have been surprised by what the Craighead papers contain.

“I went in just looking to find some nice pictures from overseas but was absorbed by all the manuscripts the brothers created about survival in exotic environments from so long ago,” said Anthony Worman, a graduate student in history and Learning and Research Services staff member. “It was neat and surprising to see how they were challenging themselves and discovering survival methods in various places in the past.” 

A description of the papers is available online at archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv546636/. After a successful MSU Giving Day fundraiser, some portions of the papers will be digitized this summer. 

The MSU Library’s Archives and Special Collections has more than 800 active collections. It specializes in collections related to Montana agriculture and ranching, Montana engineering and architecture, Montana history, MSU history, Native Americans in Montana, prominent Montanans, trout and salmonids, regional writers like Ivan Doig, U.S. Sen. Burton K. Wheeler, and Yellowstone National Park and the Yellowstone ecosystem.

Archives and Special Collections is open to the public. Individuals who wish to visit may schedule a reading room appointment, and staff are available to answer questions through a contact form at lib.montana.edu/archives/contact-form/. More information is available online at lib.montana.edu/archives/.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on several proposed fish removal and restoration projects. A description of each of the projects is available online at fwp.mt.gov. The Fish and Wildlife Commission held a work session May 18 to generally review this topic and their role. 

Currently, there are 22 fish removal projects planned for the 2021 field season. Types of projects for this year range from mechanical removals to reduce competition or hybridization risk of native species, piscicide treatments to remove nonnative fish above barriers and reintroduce native species, piscicide and mechanical removals to improve sport fisheries, and piscicide treatments to remove unauthorized introductions of fish. Many of these removal projects have completed review under the Montana Environmental Policy Act, which requires an Environmental Assessment (EA) and Decision Notice. Others have EAs still pending. Some mechanical removals have been ongoing for several years, some piscicide projects have already completed initial treatment (leaving a waterbody completely or partially fishless), while others are just getting started this year.

The commission approves all angling regulations, projects funded through the Future Fisheries Improvement Program, and aquatic invasive removals. After a review of these projects and statutes pertaining to commission authority, projects that involve fish removal will now have review and approval by the commission.

The commission will consider public comments received regarding these projects prior to approving them.

To view and comment on the fish removal projects, visit online. Comments can also be emailed to fwpfishcomments@mt.gov. Public comments will be accepted through June 3, at 5 p.m.

Summer is upon us and it’s time to get together outside! Summer events for families and people of all ages are happening on the lawn throughout June, July, August, and September at Pilgrim Church in South Bozeman. To celebrate the coming together of people in the community, Pilgrim has planned a number of wonderful, free events that will stimulate creativity, connection, and community in a beautiful outdoor setting surrounding the church. Starting on June 28th, there will be a family-oriented Outdoor Summer Kick-Off Concert. The concert will feature the music of Kate & The AlleyKats, Dos Mayos, UkePhoria as well as numerous kids/family performances. The fun starts at 6:30 PM with a BYO picnic and a 7 PM concert on the Lawn at Pilgrim. Another “Back to School” concert is planned for August 23rd.

For kids that like to ride trikes, bikes, or skateboards there will be a Chalk “Kids Race Track” maze in the South parking lot open to the public starting July 5th through the end of August.

Once a month, there will be an evening of meditation, music, and poetry with the theme of “Perennial Wisdom.” These contemplative events for adults will be collaboratively led by Rex Spears, Cyndi Fonda, Dee Dee Combs, Patti Gehman, Amber Ikeman, and Tim Dolan. S’mores campfire Sing Alongs in July and September will be led by Music Kate and other Pilgrim/community musicians.

And last but not least, there will be two Friday night outdoor movie nights on August 13 and September 10th featuring a BYO picnic, BYO lawn games, and family-friendly films (to be announced). To receive text reminders about these summer events happening in South Bozeman, text @P-SmrText to 81010. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, some events may be moved inside, moved to another location, or canceled.

If you have questions, email mail@uccbozeman.org or call 406-570-2839.

The Fastest Six-Person Chairlift in North America

Big Sky Resort has resumed the installation of a major new chairlift, Swift Current 6. In summer 2020, crews completed much of the foundation work to commence the installation of the new chair. Starting April 19, 2021, crews began removing the existing quad, which will be replaced with a brand new, six-person high-speed chair for the 2021-2022 season. 

Swift Current 6 will be a new six-person, high-speed chair with a signature Big Sky Blue Bubble, ultrawide heated seats, and will also become the fastest six-person chairlift in North America. Swift Current 6 is the resort’s next step in creating the most technologically-advanced lift network in North America, a key pillar of the Big Sky 2025 vision.  

“Swift Current 6 replaces the current four-person chairlift with state-of-the-art, energy-efficient Doppelmayr D-Line technology,” explains Stephen Kircher, CEO and president of Boyne Resorts, parent company of Big Sky Resort. “This technology offers guests reliability and a staggeringly fast, warm, and comfortable ride leading up to the iconic Lone Peak. There will be no faster, safer or more comfortable chairlift in North America.”  

Kircher says the chairlift’s innovations will make the ride not only measurably faster—moving at the unsurpassed speed of 1,200 feet per minute—but noticeably quieter, smoother, and more energy-efficient. “The combination of the lift design and the new D-Line technology makes the ride whisper quiet, incredibly smooth, and energy-efficient,” says Kircher. “The safety-bars auto-lock, the adjustable ramp makes loading seamless, and with wide, heated seats and a weatherproof bubble—the short seven-minute ride will feature extraordinary comfort and reliability.”  

Swift Current 6 marks the fifth major Doppelmayr lift infrastructure project at Big Sky in the past five years, with each lift improvement offering innovations that are essential to deliver on the Big Sky 2025 vision of creating America’s Alp.  
 
“We are proud to be part of the lift transformation happening at Big Sky,” said Katharina Schmitz, president, Doppelmayr USA. “Big Sky is on a path to rival the best lift systems in the world when the 2025 vision is completed,” added Schmitz.  

Consistent lift improvements are an essential part of Big Sky’s 2025 vision, says Big Sky President and COO Taylor Middleton. “We know efficiently dispersing skiers across our almost 6,000 acres of skiing is essential to our guests. Swift Current will dramatically modernize and improve the flow of skiers in the Mountain Village base area thanks to a nearly 50% increase in uphill capacity and a noticeably faster ride.”  

Middleton says Swift Current’s upgrade demonstrates the resort’s ability to adapt the Big Sky 2025 vision through the pandemic and to accommodate for increased demand at Big Sky.  

“We were able to bring Swift Current forward in our 2025 timeline and still keep on track with our next transformative steps of mountain improvements,” added Middleton.  
 

The previous state walleye record was set in 2007 with a 17.75-pound fish from Tiber Reservoir.

Other recent state record fish include a chinook salmon caught last August, a smallmouth bass in October, a yellow bullhead in December, a brown trout in February, a longnose sucker in March, and a largemouth bass in April.

With a total of 91 native and introduced fish species found in Montana, interest in fish records has increased in recent years. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks maintains the list of record fish, and it is available on FWP’s website at https://fwp.mt.gov/fish/anglingData/records

Anglers who think they caught a state record fish should keep the following things in mind:

• To prevent loss of weight, do not clean or freeze the fish. Keep the fish cool — preferably on ice.

• Take a picture of the fish.

• The fish must be weighed on a certified scale (found in grocery stores or hardware stores, etc.) and witnessed by a store employee or other observer. Obtain a weight receipt and an affidavit from the store personnel if no FWP official is present. Measure the length and girth.

• Contact the nearest FWP office to have the fish positively identified by a fisheries biologist.

Nearly every driver has been out on the highway at some point and seen the huge commercial trucks that go lumbering by. These vehicles transport all kinds of goods from one end of a state to another or even travel between the East Coast and the West Coast. They help to sustain this nation, and without them, life as we know it would break down.

However, because they’re so enormous, not just anyone can handle one. You can’t get behind a commercial truck’s wheel and drive it just because you have a standard driver’s license.

Let’s talk about the four specific things commercial truckers need before they can enter this profession.

You Need a Commercial Trucker’s License
The average commercial truck is 20-30 times larger than a passenger car. Because of this, it makes sense that you would need some special training to operate one. You will require something that the industry calls a CDL.

CDL stands for commercial driver’s license. To get one, drivers generally attend a trucking school, and they also take safety competence courses.

In addition to the technical training required to operate these massive vehicles, the courses teach would-be truck drivers that they shouldn’t drive after ingesting alcohol or drugs. They teach them never to text or talk on the phone while driving. They also instruct them to stay levelheaded at the wheel and never to involve themselves in a road rage incident.

Some trucking industry companies require a HAZMAT endorsement before they hire you. They may also need you to undertake some additional training sessions of various kinds.

Age Requirements
You have to be at 18 at a minimum to drive a commercial truck. However, some trucking companies will hesitate to hire you at that age, even if you have a commercial driver’s license. At 18, some individuals don’t make the best decisions, and a company might feel like you aren’t mature enough yet to handle your own rig.

If you’re under 21, you cannot haul any hazardous material, but there are no further age restrictions. What’s interesting is that you don’t have to turn in your commercial driver’s license if you get to a particular age. Ageism is a problem in certain professions, and some companies will certainly hesitate to let you continue driving if you’re past the conventional retirement age.

Physical Requirements
There are also some physical requirements if you want to be a commercial truck driver. You do have to be able to sit behind the wheel for many hours at a time. If you have eyesight or hearing problems, that’s probably going to impede you from entering this profession.

You also usually have to load and unload heavy cargo from the truck, so you have to be physically fit for that. The Department of Transportation tests you to make sure there’s nothing obvious from a physical standpoint that might stop you from driving. If you have something like sleep apnea, you’d better look for another job.

A Background Check and Clean Driving Record
Lastly, you’ll need to pass a background check to ensure there’s nothing questionable in your past. You also need to have a clean driving record.

If you have multiple felonies in your past or something along those lines, a company will likely think twice about hiring you. If you have several DUIs, it will be the same.

Someone can hold a company legally responsible if they hire a driver with a checkered past, and then that driver does something illegal or inappropriate. If you have a criminal record or you’ve made a couple of driving mistakes, that probably will not disqualify you automatically. Still, if it’s a choice between you and a driver with a squeaky-clean record, don’t let it surprise you if the company picks the other candidate over you.

Truck driving can pay pretty well, and as you can see, a college degree is not one of the requirements. Because of that, many individuals try to get into this profession, and they’re right to do so. It seems likely that this nation will continue to need truck drivers for many years to come, even though some companies are testing self-driving trucks at the moment.

If you do become a trucker, you have a certain degree of freedom. You have a boss to whom you must answer, but you can get out on the open road and enjoy watching the sun come up, which many would argue beats sitting behind a desk.

TWIN BRIDGES – A full fishing closure is in effect for a portion of the lower Ruby River due to low flows.  The closure extends for about 14 miles, from the confluence with the Beaverhead River to Duncan District Road crossing.

Flows on the Ruby River at a U.S. Geological Survey gauge near Twin Bridges fell below the 5th percentile of daily flow values on May 12, meeting established criteria for the closure.  

The river will remain closed to fishing until daily mean flows exceed 20 cubic feet per second for seven consecutive days, or until Sept. 15, 2021. 

Closures and restrictions of this nature are designed to protect fish that become more susceptible to disease and mortality when conditions such as low flows combine with additional stressors.