Edward O'Brien

1 week ago | mtpr.org | Edward O'Brien |Aaron Bolton |Victoria Traxler

Five grizzly bear deaths confirmed in Montana so far this year According to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks two people were picking mushrooms just north of Choteau on May 21 when they were charged by an adult female grizzly bear. The men shot and killed the bear at close range. Neither person was injured. This is the second grizzly bear fatality in Teton County this year. A man hunting for shed antlers last month in Dupuyer shot and killed a grizzly after it charged him. He was uninjured.

2 weeks ago | mtpr.org | Edward O'Brien |Austin Amestoy

This week’s topic comes from a listener who asks, ‘Why is there no hog industry in Montana?’ While Montana famously has more cows than people, as we dug into this question, we found out that pigs are a big deal in Montana. Austin Amestoy: Welcome to The Big Why, a series from Montana Public Radio where we find out what we can discover together. I'm your host, Austin Amestoy. This is a show about listener-powered reporting. We'll answer questions, big or small, about anything under the Big Sky.

1 month ago | mtpr.org | Edward O'Brien

Bighorn sheep test positive for pneumonia-causing bacteriaA pair of north-central Montana bighorn sheep have tested positive for pneumonia-causing bacteria. State wildlife officials say this is disappointing news for what was once one of the region’s strongest herds. Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks says both rams tested positive for Mycoplasma ovipneumonia or M. ovi. One of the sheep tested was harvested by a hunter this past fall.

1 month ago | mtpr.org | Edward O'Brien

This year’s spring school election comes amid a backdrop of mounting operational costs, federal funding cuts and declining enrollment in many Montana districts. Ballots for Missoula County’s May 6 school election should be in voters’ hands this week. They’ll decide the outcome of three levies. The elementary and high school levies are operational, meaning they fund the basic expenses of day-to-day school operations.

2 months ago | mtpr.org | Edward O'Brien

Montana’s weather last month was marked by a mix of rain, fresh snow, and even some snow melt. The good news is precipitation was above normal for March across most of the state. That’s according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Bozeman. Deficits, however, stubbornly persist in a few locations. The Sun-Teton-Marias and St. Mary River basins have hovered around 70-80% of normal. The Upper Clark Fork and Power River Basins are also lagging behind.