Escape Sensory Overload This Holiday—Visit FWP Online

By Diane Tipton, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Statewide Information Officer

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As wonderful as the holidays are, a break from the frenzy of shopping, decorating and gift-wrapping is always welcome. But where can you go? Even the Internet, an ever popular escape, is a maze of holiday offers and ways to prevent pets from eating the chocolate Santas and poinsettias.

By comparison, the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ site is a quiet rest stop. Just take exit— fwp.mt.gov—on the Internet superhighway for a peaceful, virtual tour of Montana’s outdoors. With time to wander, you will discover some weird and wonderful information.

While FWP won’t be competing with U-Tube any time soon, you may be surprised to find more than 100 outdoor visual adventures at fwp.mt.gov . Here you can explore Montana’s rivers and lakes, learn more about the state’s wildlife and even look over the shoulder of a grizzly bear biologist as they radio collar a bear.

If you’d rather read than watch the action, visit the photo filled pages of Montana Outdoors Magazine, the nationally recognized source on Montana’s Outdoors. Here you’ll discover the history behind some of Montana’s State Parks, see how biologists track grizzlies, wolverines and other elusive wildlife and hear about what is up with Montana’s elk.

Among the magazine’s offerings are a slew of brainteasers that would make good conversation starters at holiday parties or on the ski slopes. For example: Does Fort Peck Reservoir have more miles of shoreline than the California coast? It is hard to believe, but yes. The reservoir has nearly twice as many shoreline miles as California’s Pacific coastline.

If the linear world of print leaves you cold, Internet games may be your style.   Click on Discover Montana’s Ecosystems to enter a virtual gaming world where the only limits are your time and curiosity.

You can learn about the Intermountain foothill/grassland ecosystem , for example, and then explore public places such as wildlife management areas and state parks that are in this ecosystem. Learn about how conservation efforts are helping fish and amphibians, for example, by viewing video clips that take you out in the field with FWP biologists.

Online games challenge you to find enough food for your bear for a day, or to design your own bird so it will be able to survive under specific habitat conditions. Find the games by clicking the "Learn" link on each ecosystem page.

If you have only a few minutes, take a look at the images of some of Montana’s oldest, wildest grizzly bears; use the electronic Animal Field Guide on the home page to learn more about your favorite wild animal; or check out the job openings at FWP.

Visiting the FWP web site this season is guaranteed to give you the conversation starters you need to liven up the next holiday open house. At least if you are asked, " Are the mountains southeast of Havre called “Bear Paw,” “Bears Paw,” or “Bear Paws? " you will be able to answer with confidence.