The Montana Raptor Conservation Center (MRCC) is proud to announce the addition of a female Krider’s Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis kriderii) to its team of education birds. With the proper federal permitting, birds of prey that are healthy, but un-releasable, can help MRCC staff advance the public’s awareness of raptors and their importance in the environment.

The newest MRCC education bird is Sydnee, a female Krider’s red-tailed hawk, found near Sidney, Montana in October 2014.  “She had a previous injury to her left humerus, which had healed but impaired her ability to fly. Because she was so young and her injuries were not treatable, MRCC was granted a permit by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to keep her.” explains Becky Kean, Director of MRCC.


“Hawks are quick and nimble on the ground, so even with only minimal flight ability, it’s not surprising that Sydnee survived for several weeks before the game wardens found her,” adds Jordan Spyke, Assistant Director at MRCC.
The Krider’s is a subspecies of Red-tail hawk distinguished by its light plumage, particularly on the head and back, and a tail that varies from pink to white. Like other buteos, hawks, Krider’s have broad, rounded wings and broad tails.

Red-tailed hawks are commonly seen soaring high above grasslands and agricultural areas searching for prey.  They will also hunt for prey—rodents, ground squirrels, rabbits, and reptiles—by perching on a treetop, telephone pole, or other lookout. As the most common hawks in North America, Red-tails have many plumage variations across the country. Krider’s typically breed in the southern parts of Canada, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Minnesota, and winter in South Dakota and southern Minnesota, sometimes going as far south as Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana.

The name Sydnee was chosen by the many MRCC volunteers who care for the bird. In addition to reflecting the area where she was found, Sydnee means a wide island in a river and also something has a deep inner desire to travel and is adventurous.  

Sydnee’s new adventures will involve meeting schoolchildren and members of the community as part of educational events. “She’s got a very calm demeanor and is easy to work with,” says Spyke.  “We are hoping to have her ready to participate in the Watershed Festival next month.”

As part of its mission of outreach and education, MRCC provides a lifetime home and long-term care for its 11 education birds.  Hawks can live close to 25 years in captivity.

 
About Montana Raptor Conservation Center
Founded in 1988, the Montana Raptor Conservation Center (MRCC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to improve the welfare of raptors across Montana through rehabilitation of injured birds, community education, and partnerships for raptor conservation and research.
 

The Gallatin Valley Land Trust has worked hard over the last 25 years to build an extensive 80 mile trail system that connects Main Street Bozeman to the Mountains that surround us. The Main Street to the Mountains trail system has trails for all abilities and they are accessible from neighborhoods all over town. Yet the trail system can be daunting and confusing to the newcomer or novice user. And even the experienced trail users in Bozeman are probably unaware of all the trails right there in our backyard.

In order to help people explore the great community trail system, GVLT is launching the first season of Discovery Walks: Trail Exploration Series. Join GVLT volunteers to walk, talk, and explore the trails while meeting new people and learning something new along the way. These one-hour, guided, educational walks are totally free and open to the public. Volunteers and local experts will be hosting short talks and activities during the walks about topics such as yoga, outdoor photography, bird identification, wildflower identification, railroad history, bouldering and more! Many of the walks are geared toward families and kids such as a kid’s nature walk with the Montana Outdoor Science School and a Trail Read with the Bozeman Public Library Children’s Librarians. You can do business on the trails too! Twice a month GVLT will host Biz Walks, a networking lunch hour with other business professionals on the trails. All participants will get a free trail map at the end of the walk so they can find other trails to explore on their own.

Trail walks do not require an RSVP. Dogs are not allowed on walks. The full schedule for June is located online at www.gvlt.org/discoverywalks. Meeting locations for walks and Google maps are also located on the website.  Nonprofits and businesses can contact GVLT to schedule a walk for their participants or employees. For more information or to volunteer, email EJ Porth, ej@gvlt.org or call 406-587-8404 ext. 8.

This year, Reach Inc. is hosting their 8th annual Reach Inc. Race for Independence on Saturday, July 4th, starting at 8:00AM.  As in past years, this race features a 1K, 5K, and 10K.  The fun begins and ends at the Reach Inc. Work Center at 322 Gallatin Park Drive, follows a gorgeous course mostly on trails, and raises funds to help adults with developmental disabilities in our community to live as independently as possible.

Reach Inc. is a local, private, non-profit that provides care to over 100 adults with developmental disabilities.  Their services include vocational, residential, and transportation supports to assist their clients in achieving their individualized goals and aspirations.

This year there are new start-times for the races.  The 10K, as always, will start at 8:00AM.  The 5K will start at 8:30AM, and the 1K will start at 9:00AM.  This new schedule will enable all participants to finish within a shorter time-frame, reduce timing errors, and spread runners out on the course.  Sorry, no dogs.  Race directors and volunteers ask that you literally keep one ear open for people who want to pass.  Due to the narrowness on parts of the trail, and the hope of creating greater opportunities for faster folks to pass, “tuning out” your fellow runners by plugging both ears with music is discouraged.

This course is flat and fast.  Registration is $25 per person for the 5K and 10K, and $15 per person for the 1K.  All children who finish the 1K will receive a medal.  Sporty, snazzy, wicking tee-shirts are available for an additional $10 each.  Medals are given out three places deep for each age group and gender.  Register at Reach Inc. 8am to 5pm (322 Gallatin Park Drive) or on-line at www.reachinc.org or https://runsignup.com/Race/MT/Bozeman/ReachIncRaceforIndependence.  For more information, to volunteer, or to help sponsor the event, contact Dee Metrick at dee@reachinc.org or 406-587-1271.

https://storify.com/bozemag/give-big-gallatin-valley

 Click the link to see photos shared online by locals participating in the event!

The Bozeman Area Community Foundation’s Give Big Gallatin Valley Day is a 24-hour, online and live celebration of giving created to increase philanthropy in Gallatin County. The goal is simple –inspire our people to come together, show their pride in their communities, andcontribute to support the life-changing work of local nonprofit organizations! This event happened for the first time in Bozeman on Tuesday May 5th and raised 2,811 gifts totaling $237,505.55 for area nonprofits!

Teachers and informal educators can learn to incorporate archaeology into their classrooms and programs through hands-on summer courses from Project Archaeology, a program based at Montana State University.

Participants engage in archaeological activities such as investigating field sites and analyzing artifacts while exploring curriculum materials that cover topics such as math and language literacy, problem solving processes and inquiry. The program has several STEM components (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) and also fulfills many core requirements in Indian Education for All and the Common Core Standards.

“Project Archaeology: Investigating a Plains Tipi” takes place June 15-18 in Bozeman.

“Project Archaeology: Educator Field School” takes place Aug. 3-7 in the gold rush town of Virginia City.

Both courses offer graduate credits from MSU; participants in the Virginia City course may also choose to enroll in the non-credit option and receive 30 OPI renewal units instead of academic credit. All participants receive a full set of curriculum materials.

Educators from throughout the United States are encouraged to participate. The field school and curriculum materials are also appropriate for informal educators, such as those based at museums, science schools and after-school programs.

For more information or to register, visit http://eu.montana.edu/credit/ or call (406) 994-6683. The courses are listed under “Education, Curriculum and Instruction.” Teachers can view a video of the Virginia City course at http://vimeo.com/34613697/

Starting May 23, 2013, Bear Aware, LLC will offer bear spray rentals in Yellowstone National Park.  When used properly, bear spray is the most effective way to stop bear attacks, being 95% effective whereas firearms are only 55% effective.  It is a last line of defense to be sprayed in the face of a charging bear.  

Founder, Sally Vering, created Bear Aware, LLC in response to the fatal grizzly bear attacks in the summer, 2011 wherein neither victim was carrying spray. “When you step out of your car in Yellowstone National Park, you are stepping into wilderness. You are in the bears’ home and should know how to avoid and stop an attack. When used properly, bear spray can save the lives of both human and bear,” says Vering.

In 2009, while vacationing in Montana, Vering (who hails from Chicago) startled a grizzly sow with two cubs as she drove to a hiking trail 20 miles north of the park. The bears began charging toward her car, and at the last moment, the sow steered her cubs to the roadside where she chased one up a tree and the other into the brush.  Luckily, the bear didn’t attack and Sally safely got away. “Seeing the primal nature of that grizzly protecting her cubs forever changed my life.  She meant business, and if I were on foot, I wouldn’t be alive today.”   

A year later Vering moved to Bozeman, Montana where she’s since learned about living in bear country. When she heard about the fatal grizzly attacks in 2011, she decided to do something to help raise hiking-safety awareness and bring bear spray rentals to the park. “It’s become my passion to better equip and educate tourists so they can safely enjoy the majesty of Yellowstone National Park.  When people take the time to learn about bears and bear spray, they can avoid - and even stop - a bear attack.” she said.

“The spray we carry was developed by a grizzly bear attack survivor,” states Sam Azizi, Operations Manager of Bear Aware. “Pepper Power® deploys a blast of highly concentrated pepper spray in a dense fog that instantly overwhelms the bear. Once a charging bear feels the effects of the spray, it will turn on its heels and leave the area.”
        
“To better inform our customers, we consulted with Dr. Chris Kenyon, Veterinarian and former Supervisor on the Northern Continental Divide Grizzly Bear Project.  With her input, we created  the ‘I Am Bear Aware Pledge’ which highlights the Park’s safety recommendations.” said Azizi.  "Customers take the pledge and watch a safety video before renting."

While hiking in Yellowstone, I will …

Beware wildlife and keep a safe distance.
Explore in a group of 3 or more.
Always stay alert and make noise.
Relax and retreat if I see a bear. I will not run.
Stand my ground and use bear spray.        © 2015.         

Bear Aware, LLC provides UDAP Pepper Power® 9.2 oz. Magnum Bear Spray rentals at $9.25/day or $28.00/week (up to 7 days) and also sells it for $49.99  The kiosk is located on the plaza of the Canyon Village Visitor Center and will be open seven days a week. Convenient drop-off bins will also be located at the Mammoth and Old Faithful locations of Yellowstone Park Service Stations.  Visitors may learn more about bear spray, how to properly use it, and view safety videos at their website, www.bearaware.com.

Do singles in different states look for different things in a partner? Mashable’s 2014 online dating study might indicate so. Match.com took to the task of sifting through thousands of U.S. dating profiles on their website in order to investigate common user interests by region.

The study identified one term for each state that was used with higher frequency than in other states. The chosen terms turned out to be quite descriptive of people’s lifestyles and interests that differed greatly from state to state. Fun-loving Pennsylvanians, for example, are searching for “amusement”, while folks from Tennessee may prefer to sit with their partner out on the “porch”. North Carolinians are serving in the “Military” and Hawaiians would prefer to “surf” on their first date. “Oil” is apparently on the minds of many Texans looking for love.



Montana’s descriptor is suited to the ladies and gentlemen who want to be able to enjoy the wilderness and bring home the bacon: hunting. Whether it’s bison or grouse, singles in the 406 want to meet someone who is potentially adventurous, brave, rugged and shares their taste in meaty cuisine. They are hardworking, boots-on-the-ground men and women that dig the neon-orange and camo-pants look. While Ohioans bond over NASCAR and people in Mississippi are content with just “lookin’”, Montanans crave the primal thrill of providing for themselves and sharing their prize with their future sweethearts. In a state of vast lands, few people, and abundant wildlife, it’s no wonder why hunting is a common interest.

Not finding love in Montana? No worries – Wyoming, Arkansas, Louisianna, and West Virginia residents are also looking for guys and gals who dig the hunter culture. Happy hunting!

For the third year in a row, Montana State University has been designated a Tree Campus USA in honor of its commitment to effective campus forest management and for engaging staff and students in conservation goals.

In recognition of the designation and in celebration of Arbor Day, MSU will hold its third annual “Plant a Tree, Donate a Tree” event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, April 24, on South 15th Street just north of Lincoln Street near the intramural fields. Individuals who are interested in donating a tree are invited to contact Blake Lerner at blake.lerner@msu.montana.edu. People who would like to help plant a tree are invited to simply show up at the tree planting location during the designated hours.

MSU achieved the Tree Campus USA recognition by meeting Tree Campus USA’s five standards, which include maintaining a tree advisory committee, maintaining a tree care plan, dedicating annual expenditures toward trees, observing Arbor Day and committing to a student service learning project.

“We are honored to be recognized once again for our ongoing stewardship of our tree resources,” said E.J. Hook, MSU environmental services manager. “Designation as a Tree Campus USA validates our efforts, process and continuing commitment to responsible management of our trees, both now and into the future. What is most encouraging is the increased awareness throughout the campus community regarding the value of trees and the difference they make in the environment we all share.”

MSU’s Tree Campus USA designation is from the Arbor Day Foundation, an organization dedicated to inspiring people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. The Arbor Day Foundation created the Tree Campus USA program in 2008. More information is available online at http://www.arborday.org/programs/treeCampusUSA/.

Seneca Boards, a Bozeman based ski and snowboard manufacturer established in 2006, announced a 4-month early limited edition release of the 2016 backcountry specific skis and split-boards today. Products are typically made for release in the fall when demand starts to increase in anticipation for the ski season, which also gives manufacturers the summer months to finish production. The early release was timed to encourage backcountry skiing after the ski resorts closed.

The decision to release next year’s products early was made back in February to allow for an extra production run during the winter. One of the company’s core philosophies has been to challenge the status quo in the ski and snowboard industry, both with its practices and products. “Seneca continues to create innovative products every year” said Eric Newman, Founder and Product Developer at Seneca Boards “The goal of this early release is to demonstrate our commitment to doing things a little differently”

If releasing the skis early isn’t unique enough, the technology in their construction certainly is. The new backcountry skis feature a hybrid construction of fiberglass, Kevlar and carbon fiber. Carbon fiber is roughly twice as strong as steal, and ¼ the weight. But using it correctly is difficult, which is why we are only now seeing it used by mainstream manufacturers, such as DPS skis and the Volkl V-Werks.

Seneca started development of their carbon skis nearly two seasons ago. Working with it required working closely with their epoxy supplier to develop new heating and curing cycles. They also worked with their new carbon fiber supplier, the same supplier and sponsor of NASA’s space shuttle program, to calculate and calibrate the new flex of the ski. The result is a ski that is livelier, stronger, and up to 1.5lbs lighter. To illustrate the complexity of the ski, the carbon fiber skis have a clear top-sheet that allows you to see the delicate weave of the carbon fiber inside.

The company’s 8 seasons of manufacturing and a focus on customer involvement have showed a trend towards customers’ interest in saving money, while still buying a premium product. To give people an opportunity to do so Seneca Boards sells their products in limited editions straight from the factory to avoid the markup of traditional retailers. As sales slow in the spring, Seneca creates demand by offering customers large savings for buying skis early for the following season, similar to local ski resorts offering deep discounts for season passes purchased in the spring.

Seneca Boards will put the backcountry skis and split-boards on sale for a limited time for 25% off and release a limited edition of 50 pairs, each hand numbered and signed personally by the owner.

Seneca Boards is the Montana’s first ski and snowboard manufacturer, and one of 3 of the country’s leading custom ski and snowboard manufacturers. The limited edition skis and split-boards can be seen at www.senecaboards.com or www.facebook.com/senecaboards and are already in stock. You can also see the skis in person or check out skis to demo by stopping into the factory’s new show room at 2104 North Rouse Ave, Suite B, on the way to Bridger Bowl.

The Artists’ Gallery in the Emerson Cultural Center will feature the work of Marci Surratt and Robert Schlenker during the month of May.  The show will include a Featured Artist Reception where you can meet the artists and share a glass of wine.



Robert Schlenker is one of the Artist Gallery’s newest members.  He works primarily in oils, focusing on landscape and wildlife art.  Robert’s smooth, brush stroke technique and fine attention to detail result in exquisite, lifelike images.  This technique, coupled with great anatomical accuracy creates wildlife images so realistic, the animals appear ready to jump or fly off out of the frame.  As a full-time artist, Schlenker has been featured in galleries across the country, and is a signature member of the international organization Artists For Conservation (AFC).



Marci Surratt works primarily in oils as well, but with a much different technique.  She approaches the subject of Nature with great awe and spiritual reverence.  For inspiration, Surratt steps into Nature in search of a story.  She spends time in the landscape, feeling and imagining the history and story of her surroundings, then brings this dialogue to her canvas with each brush stroke.  She paints from her soul in an attempt to communicate what the earth and its magnificent beasts bring out inside herself.

Stop by for our Featured Artist Reception in The Artists’ Gallery, Friday, May 8th from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm during the Emerson Open House.