FVCC Nature Journal

Join FVCC Library Director Morgan Ray and John Fraley as they cruise through some happy stories, sad stories and everything in between in some of Montana's Wilderness Areas. Morgan serves as the host as she interviews John about these stories found in his new book, My Wilderness Life , published last week by Farcountry Press in Helena. 

The American dipper, or water ouzel, is a small grayish bird common along rocky streams in Northwest Montana and beyond.  Come along on today’s Nature Journal Podcast to learn all about this bobbing and dipping little bird! 

The red fox is one of the most widespread mammals across North America. In recent years, this adaptable carnivore seems to be expanding its range to high elevations in Glacier National Park. Join us on our 50th episode of the Nature Journal to learn all about this member of the Canid (dog) family!

One of the things Montanans overwhelmingly favor is access to our precious open lands. We are lucky in Montana to have these landscapes close and accessible. Join lands expert Jim Williams on today’s podcast to learn all about efforts to keep our lands open to all. 

Counting mountain goats along the spine of our highest mountains from a helicopter sounds exhilarating and dangerous, and in fact it is. Come along on today’s Nature Journal and learn all about surveying these elusive critters! 

The mountain goat is a hoofed mammal native to North America.  They live in our highest mountains and thrive on cliffs, ice, and snow. Come along on our Nature Journal podcast to learn all about this unusual creature! 

The GNP Conservancy is one of those unique organizations that supports Glacier National Park. We all love Glacier, and the Conservancy provides funds and cares for the Park. Come along with Executive Director Doug Mitchell on today’s FVCC Nature Journal to learn all about it!

The chance to float the incredible Smith River is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You must apply in a lottery for a permit. Incredible canyon scenery, abundant wildlife, and great fishing make this the most unique float in Montana. Come along and experience a recent float on this amazing river.

The sucker family comprises 9 species in Montana. Suckers are hard to catch, but they are vital to the aquatic systems. Join us on this episode of the Nature Journal to learn all about this fish family. We will be joined by Kevin Fraley, the current state record holder for the largescale sucker. 

Found in the high country, Montana’s hoary marmot is actually a giant, 10-pound squirrel! It’s common around Logan Pass in Glacier National Park and other high elevation areas. Join us on this episode of the Nature Journal to learn more about this amazing rodent!

Montana’s ancient shovelnose and pallid sturgeons live on today in the Missouri River system.

Fisheries biologist, Sam Bourret describes his recent underwater video studies of bull trout in Wounded Buck Creek, a tributary of Hungry Horse Reservoir. 

Fisheries biologist Sam Bourret details his recent studies of pure and hybrid westslope cutthroat in tributaries of the North Fork of the Flathead River. 

Join host, John Fraley, in an exploration of fun aspects of the natural world: interesting bird and wildlife species, other fauna, and flora, much of which we can find on the FVCC Campus. The podcast features interviews with naturalists and wildlife professionals and students doing interesting projects, as well as funny and unusual aspects of nature and wildlife management. Listeners can learn abo...

Come along on today’s podcast to learn all about these intelligent birds, and become an expert at distinguishing one from the other!

Join FWP game warden Ben Chappelow as he talks about patrolling the beautiful backcountry of the upper Flathead Drainage. Ben is known as the singing game warden and he played a short fiddle tune to intro this episode. 

The Columbian Ground Squirrel is very common in western Montana. Glacier Park is loaded with them in subalpine and alpine meadows. Join us on the Nature Journal today to learn all about this common animal that many people mis-identify!

Join Chris Peterson, editor of the Hungry Horse news, as we talk about all things Glacier National Park! You’ll learn about the Going to the Sun Road reservation system, what’s coming up this summer in GNP, hiking spots this spring, and tips on photography in the Park.

Across the high, alpine landscapes of western Montana one conifer stands out as unique. The alpine larch, a seldom seen glacial relic, has a fascinating story. Join us on the Nature Journal to learn about this unusual tree. 

The life of a state parks ranger can be exciting, offbeat, and challenging. Join Brian Schwartz of Montana FWP as he talks about funny and not so funny experiences in his decades of patrolling and managing these jewels of our public lands.

Forest bathing is an emerging practice that offers a meditative and mood-lifting experience. Join expert Ellen Horowitz as we explore this stress-relieving immersion in nature that can be done in any forest or area of the great outdoors.

The recovery of the bald eagle is one of the world’s greatest conservation success stories. Join Dr. Christina Relyea and John Fraley as they discuss the factors that almost led to the bald eagle’s extinction, and the steps that made its recovery possible.  Learn lots of amazing facts about this giant bird that sports a wingspan of over seven feet, and builds nests that weigh up to 4,000 poun...

Join us on the nature journal and learn about Montana’s biggest minnow.  This non-native fish can weigh over 40 pounds, and it sports large grinding teeth in the lower part of its throat. In recent years, these fish have been a target of bow-fishing and fly-fishing tournaments.  Can you name this fish?

The giant water bug, at 4 inches in length, is the largest aquatic insect in Montana. This bug swims with a snorkel and flies through the air using its four wings. With its large piercing beak,  It can prey on other insects, fish, and even amphibians!

Invasive species like exotic weeds, non native fish and other critters pose a threat to our native species in Montana’s ecosystems.  In this episode, Christina Relyea talks about some of the more troublesome exotic species and how we might deal with them.