Trumpeter swan cygnets thrive amid water level concerns at wildlife refuge
At Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge in Montana, manager Tom Reed reports two new swan brood developments this year with six cygnets and two adults on one pond followed by four cygnets and two adults on another. He notes rising water worries as heat drives lower levels, threatening nests and habitat for the trumpeter swans and other waterfowl. Swans have slowly recovered since near extinction in the early 1900s due to restoration efforts, with 242 bird species recorded in 2020 and 105 nesting on-site that year.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge
Stevensville
Hamilton
Tom Reed
Reed
Lee Metcalf
Montana education agency releases accreditation report
The Office of Public Instruction reports that over three quarters of Montana schools meet accreditation standards while about 15 percent are in advice status for 2023 24. Six percent are regular with minor deviations and three percent are deficient. Schools in advice or deficiency status face three years to fix issues or drop in status.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Helena
Montana
State Education Agency
Office of Public Instruction
Helenair.com
Critical fire weather forecast frames Blacktail Canyon fire
The forecast warns of critical fire weather through Thursday with strong winds lightning low humidity and hot temperatures as crews fight the Blacktail Canyon fire southeast of Butte. A Forest Service update notes aerial mapping at about 76 acres with 179 personnel and one helicopter aiding suppression.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
LeeAnn Allegretto
National Weather Service
Missoula
Forest Service
Blacktail Canyon
Butte
Beaverhead - Deerlodge National Forest
Beaver Pond Meadows
NorthWestern monitors weather for possible power shutoff
NorthWestern Energy says high winds and hot dry conditions could trigger a public safety power shutoff in Montana. The company notes a PSPS is a last resort to prevent wildfires and warns affected areas would be outside major cities.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Helena
NorthWestern Energy
Montana
NorthWestern
Butte
Great Falls
Bozeman
NWE
Also Mentioned on This Page
Abigail Landwehr
Ravalli Republic
Iccoulian.com
Montana Education Agency
Holly Michels
Holly.michels
See
Duncan Adams
Duncan.adams
Mtstandard
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