Joint NFLA/NFPA press release: Small Community Loses Grizzly Family

For Immediate Release: September 8, 2021
Contact:
   Richard Hildner, NFLA President, richardhildner@icloud.com or
   Flannery Coats, NFPA President, flannery.e.coats@gmail.com

Small Community Loses Grizzly Family

Monica with three cubs, June 8, 2020 – W. K. Walker
Monica with three cubs, June 8, 2020 – W. K. Walker

Polebridge, Montana [September 8, 2021] – Bear #418, known to locals as Monica, was euthanized Saturday, September 4th along with her three female yearlings, after receiving a multitude of food rewards over the past week. Due to several incidents involving improper food and garbage storage within an eight-mile radius of the Polebridge townsite the bears were ultimately deemed food-conditioned. Monica had been a resident female grizzly bear in the North Fork Valley for 17 years.

In response, two local non-profits, the North Fork Landowners Association (nflandowners.org) and the North Fork Preservation Association (gravel.org), will be working together, along with agency partners, to help improve food and garbage storage in the area as well as to make financial aid resources from conservation organizations such as Defenders of Wildlife and Vital Ground more readily available to residents and business owners in the North Fork.

The North Fork community deeply grieves the loss of Monica and her cubs and in the coming months will explore new avenues to further educate and assist residents and visitors in how to live and recreate in bear country in a manner safe for both bears and humans.

Reminder: First NFLA meeting of 2021-2022 season, Sep 12

Sondreson Community Hall
Sondreson Community Hall

The North Fork Landowners Association hosts its first meeting of the 2021-2022 season on September 12, 2021. We begin with a North Fork history presentation by Lois Walker and Arne Boveng at 7pm followed by the general membership meeting at 8pm.

Here’s your opportunity to meet our new officers, learn what they are planning for next season and how you can be an active part of our community. On the agenda is a report from our new president, Richard Hildner, regarding North Fork Road conditions and Glacier View Drive. We will also discuss the time for NFLA meetings each month (no changes may be made to the regularly scheduled date of the meeting).

Bring a snack to share, and join us for an interesting presentation by the History Committee at 7pm followed by our Membership meeting at 8pm.

Please note that COVID-19 precautions at Sondreson Hall are governed by the current CDC recommendations for meetings in public venues in areas of the country of “substantial or high transmission” for the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus. Seating will be socially distanced (six feet spacing), although family members may wish to sit closer together. Masks and hand sanitizer will be available to those who need them.

View current meeting agenda.

Summer Solstice Hike, Monday evening, June 21, 7:00pm

PLEASE join me (Zoe Zardis) to CELEBRATE the beginning of Summer with our North Fork June Solstice hike on Monday evening, June 21st to Cyclone Lookout.

Even though this year’s Summer Solstice actually happens on Father’s Day, June 20th, we will still reap the benefits of the LONGEST period of sunlight hours.

Meet at the intersection of Hay Creek and North Fork Roads @ 7:00pm.

    • I will be driving a black Subaru.
    • We can carpool to the trailhead.
    • If you prefer to drive separately I will give you directions.

Continue reading Summer Solstice Hike, Monday evening, June 21, 7:00pm

COVID-19: Updated Sondreson Hall Use Restrictions and Guidelines

The COVID-19 policy for events at Sondreson Hall is based on current CDC guidelines. People who have not been fully vaccinated are encouraged to continue taking precautions, including hand washing, wearing a mask and, where practical, practicing social distancing.

If needed, disposable masks are available at the hall. The suggested donation for a mask is $1.00, but do not hesitate to use a mask just because you don’t have a dollar handy.

Hand sanitizer is also available at the hall.

NFLA Board of Directors
May 23, 2021


Notes

In general, people are considered fully vaccinated:
    2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
    2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.

See the CDC website (cdc.gov) for more details on COVID-19 precautions.

North Fork Patrol News

A note from Mark Heaphy . . .

The North Fork Patrol is finishing up checking and/or skiing into all properties that were signed up (about 140). Last month’s windstorm blew down many trees and if damage occurred, the property owner was notified. Be prepared for downed trees across entry roads or on properties when you return in spring or summer.

North Valley Rescue will be conducting winter training in the vicinity of Trail Creek and Kintla Ranch on Saturday, February 27th. Two Bear Air may be conducting ops in the area mid to late morning. If you have questions please contact Mark Heaphy.

COVID-19: Sondreson Hall Use Restrictions and Guidelines – max capacity now 25

I wear the mask to protect the people closest to me - BatmanThe governor has tightened up the state’s pandemic-related restrictions, effective  November 20, 2020. The only impact locally is to reduce Sondreson Hall’s maximum capacity from 50 to 25. Everything else remains the same. Here are the updated “Sondreson Hall Use Restrictions and Guidelines” . . .

The following restrictions, guidelines and notices apply to the use of Sondreson Hall under Montana’s “Phase 2” COVID-19 management plan, the November 17, 2020 “Directive on Group Size and Capacity,” and in accordance with Montana’s mask directive:

The maximum number of people in the hall at any given time is 25. For a given event, up to 25 chairs will be set up, dispersed as widely as practical. If there are no empty seats available, please do not enter the hall until someone else leaves. If the event requires tables, they should be dispersed as widely as practical (ideally at least 6 feet apart) with no more than six individuals seated at each table.

Face coverings are required within the hall for all individuals with the following exceptions:

  • Children under the age of five. All children between the ages of two and four, however, are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering. Children under the age of two should not wear a face covering.
  • Persons who have a medical condition precluding the safe wearing of a face covering.
  • Other exceptions as defined in the Governor’s July 15, 2020 Mask Directive.

No food sharing beyond family groups except under specific circumstances. The exception is when food is distributed in a serving line with the individuals handing out the food using appropriate protection (masks and gloves).

During clean-up after events, please follow the disinfection guidelines posted throughout the hall:

“Please use spray bottle solution to disinfect all surfaces, including tables, counters, the lectern, the stovetop, and the sink area. Also wipe down any chairs that were used during the event. Disposable gloves are provided. The solution contains bleach so be careful with your clothing. Thank you for helping us keep our members and guests safe.”

Hand sanitizer is available several places throughout the hall. Please use it as needed.

If needed, disposable masks are available at the hall. The suggested donation for a mask is $1.00, but do not hesitate to use a mask just because you don’t have a dollar handy.

(To view or download this information as a printable PDF, click here.)

Annual NFLA food drive collection for local food banks, Oct 11

Sondreson Hall by Gerry StearnsREMINDER: This Sunday, October 11, 8:00pm, is the year’s last NFLA general membership meeting. We will, as usual, be collecting non-perishable food items for distribution to the local food banks. This year, donations will go to the Northwest Montana Veterans Stand Down and Food Pantry. If you can’t make the meeting, you can give items to someone who plans to attend.

(Note: There is no 7pm pre-meeting presentation this month. Everything starts at 8pm at Sondreson Hall.)

Flathead National Forest 2020 prescribed fire projects

FNF 2020 Prescribed BurnsFlathead National Forest announced their prescribed burn schedule today. Here are the items in the North Fork…
 
Red Whale RX A 750-acre project is planned in the Red Whale Creek Drainage in the North Fork region about 4 miles northwest of Polebridge. Depending on weather, this burn is planned for mid to late September to early October. The purpose of this project is to help restore a more historical fire regime to the ecosystem, improve wildlife habitat, and reduce hazardous fuels to reduce wildfire risk and aid in potential future wildfire efforts.
North Fork Road – Five acres of hand piles near the Big Creek work center.