Transparency urged for wildlife agency

To help determine the future of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the agency turned to the public for input.

A statewide string of listening sessions ended last week with its final stop in Kalispell.

It’s part of the “15 and Forward” initiative that will guide the agency’s work over the next decade.

“What that means for FWP is we remain relevant to the public,” said Deb O’Neill, a policy and planning specialist for the agency.

The last vision session was in 1998, she added.

A group of about 30 people met with Fish, Wildlife and Parks staffers at the Museum at Central School. They discussed everything from the agency’s public perception to its work and management strategies.

Some of the repeated concerns among the attendees included predator management, preparing for increased land use and getting young people more engaged in outdoor recreation.

Another idea that kept coming up was transparency. Many mentioned that the agency could do a better job of public outreach.

“When something is going on, FWP can be on the quiet side,” said Mike Rooney, a member of a regional Trout Unlimited chapter.

Rooney is also a representative from Libby on the agency’s Citizen’s Advisory Committee. He said that many of the themes that emerged in the listening session have been topics of discussion at committee meetings.

Sessions like this have taken place in all of the agency’s seven regions from Miles City to Kalispell. There have been 18 meetings in all, both with the public and internally with staff.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials characterized this as a bottom-up effort that started with staff and public requests to retool the agency’s vision.

“This is really, truly a staff-initiated effort,” said Gary Wolfe, the District 1 Commission member for the agency.

Reporter Matt Hudson may be reached at 758-4459 or by email at mhudson@dailyinterlake.com.