Bob Danley doesn’t need an auditorium or a soft, padded seat to enjoy the art of synchronized dance.

Instead, this time of year, the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge’s outdoor recreation planner just keeps his eyes peeled toward the large ponds near the refuge headquarters.

When he spots a flock of large white birds bobbing on those waters, Danley picks up his binoculars to watch a bit of nature’s own ballet.

“Their synchronized feeding has just been awesome to watch,” he said. “They all dip their bills down into the water at the same time. It’s like watching ballet.”

The annual arrival of American white pelicans at the refuge north of Stevensville is a harbinger of fall.

“Right now, we have about 20 pelicans here on the refuge,” he said. “With their eight-foot wingspan and bills that can hold two gallons of water, these birds are just fantastic.”

MORE>>>The Missoulian

Game animals -- officially defined as antelope, deer, elk or moose -- which are killed on the road by vehicles can be legally salvaged and used for meat in Montana under a new law which goes into effect on October 1, 2013. Alaska, Illinois, Wisconsin, New York, Florida, and West Virginia have already enacted similar laws.

House Bill 247, introduced by Rep. Steve Lavin, was passed by the Montana Legislature in February and signed into law by Governor Steve Bullock in April. It allows law-enforcement officers to issue permits to individuals to salvage game animals. Anyone issued a permit must remove the carcass of the entire animal.

The Montana Department of Transportation reports more than 1,900 wild animal were killed in vehicle crashes in 2011, and nearly 7,000 carcasses were collected from the side of roads, according to the Huffington Post.

Rep. Lavin introduced the law because he thought people were missing out on a potential food source. That “seems like a waste,” he said.

The original draft of the bill allowed generic “game animals, fur-bearing animals, migratory game birds and upland game birds” to be salvaged, but that raised concerns with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials, who warned that although some animals, such as Bighorn sheep, are frequently killed by vehicles in the Thompson Falls area, and allowing them to be legally salvaged could cause their potentially valuable carcasses to become the focus of profiteering.

MORE>>>Opposing View

Folks can head out to Glacier National Park on Saturday and see the sights for free.

Entrance fees are being waived on Sept. 28 as part of National Public Lands Day, and visitors are being encouraged to pay a visit and experience Fall in the park.

National Public Lands Day is an annual event intended to improve the health of public lands and encourage shared stewardship through volunteer service.

Ranger-led activities will be available in the Lake McDonald Valley area on Saturday, including John's Lake Loop Hike, an easy three mile walk through cedar-hemlock forest, quiet lakes, and roaring cascades.

Visitors are reminded to come prepared for changing weather conditions by layering clothing and having the appropriate footwear for planned activities. The park is also home to black and grizzly bears, and visitors should always be "bear aware."

Outdoor enthusiasts should always communicate activity plans and time of return to someone.

KPAX

The police blotter for the Flathead area reports on heinous crime, misdeeds and mishaps on a typical Montana day.

Police Blotter
 
5:40 a.m. Someone in a white car was seen shooting a BB gun at another vehicle on Third Avenue West.

9:07 a.m. A slightly vicious brown dog was seen on Bay Harbor Drive in Bigfork.

9:09 a.m. Two holes were shot through the front window of a home on Fourth Street West. BBs were found on the floor.

9:09 a.m. Numerous people who had parked their vehicle on Third Avenue West found that their windows had been shot out.

2:45 p.m. A truck on Tamarack Lane in Columbia Falls looked as though it had been keyed.

3:57 p.m. A man called from Bayou Road to report that his three-year-old boy and his three-year-old nephew had wondered out of the yard. The boys were found a short time later “deer hunting” in a nearby field.

8:49 p.m. A woman was heard screaming on the Going-to-the-Sun Road in West Glacier. A ranger discovered a singing transient.

11:02 p.m. A Whitefish resident called 911 to report that a llama was in their backyard.

Flathead Beacon