Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
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The wildland fire community has functioned on a somewhat world-wide basis for a long time. As the fire situation worsened in the Canadian provinces a few weeks ago, official help was requested from the US, Australia, and New Zealand. I was one of the Forest Service employees asked to support the effort in Saskatchewan. I flew from Denver to Saskatoon, and then, along with about 20 other American personnel, was taken by bus to Prince Albert near the center of the Province. After a briefing on their general fire techniques and strategies, we...
With all the recent rain, the diversity and number of fungi – what most people call mushrooms – in the woods right now is outstanding. Even though most should NOT be eaten by humans, the seemingly endless variety of colors and shapes make this an ideal time for hunting them with your camera. Role of the Mighty Mushroom Fungi are some of the most important organisms for life on this planet, both in terms of their ecological and economic roles. By breaking down dead organic material, fungi constantly cycle and recycle the limited supply of nut...
Not quite two months ago, in mid-March, a U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer and his dog were gunned down in North Carolina. A life-long criminal, suspected of having just murdered his own parents, fled into the woods, then ambushed Officer Jason Crisp and Canine Officer Maros as they tracked his trail. While there was an impressive outpouring of support from the entire community there, Jason’s wife and two young boys are left with holes in their hearts and their home that no words will ever fill. There was no reason for the two o...
A fellow employee came into the office last week bearing a package – the sad body of a recently deceased eagle. Not the type of “gift” one might want to receive during the holidays (or ever). The eagle had been struck and killed by a vehicle while feeding on the carcass of another victim of a collision with traffic. While the first fatality might not have been reasonably prevented (suicidal deer or bunnies running into the road, for instance), that of the eagle probably could have been. By most accounts, eagles are graceful, elegant deniz... Full story
Looking at a hundred or so tents, a dozen porta-potties and several rows of tables in what had been merely a sagebrush meadow just a few days before, it’s not hard to imagine the rise (and fall) of the mining and logging boom towns in the late 1880s. Each year across the U.S., dozens of modern “fire camps” sprout in pastures, fields and school lawns in response to wild fires. The larger ones usually include showers, tool caches, a covered eating area, laundry service, medical assistance (mostly blisters!), a payroll and claims depar...
Starting off a conversation with “I like snakes” usually gets suspicious looks. I like snakes for two reasons: their form of locomotion amazes me (who would design a snake?) and they tend to eat things for which I harbor less enthusiasm, mostly the insects, grubs, worms and other things that make a meal of my garden before I do. Wandering Garter The most common snake in the Saratoga area is the wandering garter (Thamnophis elegans). They are a dull green to brown color, with pale yellow or orange stripes along the back and sides. Rows of dar...
Walking around town the other evening, I couldn’t help but notice the sound of frogs. Our earliest vocal amphibians are boreal chorus frogs (Pseudacris maculate), with a sound much like running one’s fingers across a plastic comb; you can hear them at fieldguide.mt.gov/detail_AAABC05130.aspx. These one-inch frogs are generally light brown with dark brown spots. Skin color can vary and may be green, gray or red instead. The most noticeable mark is probably a long spot, almost a dark line, which extends from their nose, through the eye, to the... Full story