Part of the true Wild Bunch

Montana is all about natural resources, so it is only right to recognize two of the state’s best known officials who have worked for years to keep the wild in our wildlands.

At a time when federal employees often bounce around the country to different positions, Glacier National Park is fortunate to have had Ranger Kyle Johnson on board for 31 years.

And Johnson’s experience  was recently recognized with a national award from the director National Park Service for his work as the park’s wilderness specialist.

Johnson’s duties in the park over the years have been numerous, to say the least, but his work in backcountry management has been impressive to a point where he has become the “go-to guy” for training in and outside of Glacier for wilderness disciplines.

The Columbia Falls High School graduate deserves the credit he’s received with the national wilderness award.

And speaking of awards, veteran state grizzly bear management specialist Tim Manley was recently recognized by three conservation organizations with the first-ever Bud Moore Conservation Award.

Manley has been with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks since 1984, initially working as a wildlife researcher. But in 1993, he started as a grizzly bear conflict specialist, and he quickly became a national leader in the field, advancing techniques such as “aversive conditioning,” which involves hazing a problem bear away from human conflict areas with dogs, noise makers, and bean-bag and rubber-bullet rounds fired from a shotgun.

But it has been his work with people in rural areas, rather than his work with bears, that has truly had an impact in reducing bear conflicts with humans. He has to repeatedly advise people to secure foods that might attract bears. His persistent work in that area has paid off in a manner that makes him deserving of the award named for the late forestry icon and conservationist, Bud Moore.

Congratulations to both of these excellent resource specialists.