Montana News Roundup: Yellowstone Off to a Bad Start for Bison Attacks

For the second time this year, a visitor at Yellowstone National Park is gored by a bison.

Rangers say the victim was with a group of others at the Upper Geyser Basin at Old Faithful when they got too close and the bison reacted. Fortunately, the man received only minor injuries and was treated at the scene and then transported for further medical attention.

Latest Bear Problems in Glacier NP

Meanwhile, Glacier National Park officials say a black bear had to be destroyed last week after it had become food conditioned and was breaking into buildings and cars. The 4-year-old bear had already been relocated to the remote Puzzle Creek drainage in 2022, but returned to cause trouble around West Glacier last year.

     ⚠️ Also, on Friday, the Going-to-the-Sun Road was opened completely for hiker-biker access, but had to be closed above The Loop, after a black bear and her cub took some food from an unattended backpack.

The timed entry system starts at Glacier

Glacier National Park will start it's "timed vehicle registration system" at the end of the week, as the park gears up for the summer season and the expected opening of the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

     - The park is using the timed entry system in an effort to ease traffic congestion at both the West Entrance and the North Fork.

Those reservations will be required for entry from 7 am to 3 pm. Visitors can remain in the park as long as they like. If travelers miss their time slot, they can enter without a reservation after 3 pm.

READ MORE: Glacier's Reservation System in 2025

The reservation checkpoint will be at the turnoff for the Apgar Loop Road. Next day reservations will be available in blocks the night before at Recreation.gov.

     -The park hasn't announced whether Going-to-the-Sun Road will be open this weekend, but full hike-bike access was opened last week, which usually indicates the route is ready.

Hiker still missing in whitewater gorge

Searchers will be back in the mountains today, as they continue looking for any sign of the hiker who fell while trying to cross a roaring creek near Red Lodge on Sunday.

Red Lodge Fire Rescue has been combing the canyon below Rimrock Lake for the hiker, using binoculars, drones, and even rappelling down into the whitewater-filled gorge without success.

     - Searchers temporarily suspended efforts Tuesday, but plan to resume operations this morning.

Hilger Fire Holding

Crews had to deal with some passing storms overnight, but at last word the Hilger Fire north of Helena is still about the same size it has been, mapped at just under 300 acres.

The fire started Monday afternoon near Gates of the Mountains, but fire teams moved quickly on this one. There was still zero containment as of the last update, but work to build fire line continues, and the attack from the air has been ongoing.

     - Fire managers have been asking boats to steer clear of the water drops being picked up from Holter Lake.

VP comes to Montana after all

He didn't make it to Missoula as rumored last week, but Vice President JD Vance did make it to Montana Tuesday.

NBC Montana reports that Vance touched down at Bert Mooney Airport in Air Force 2 on Tuesday afternoon, jumping into a motorcade and heading south on I-15 toward Dillon. The Montana Standard had reported that temporary flight restrictions had been posted for Butte and Dillon in advance of the arrival.

UPDATE:

This morning we learned additional details of the Vice President's visit thanks to an exclusive interview on Montana Talks with Aaron Flint, who talked with State Auditor and Dillon native James Brown. Brown explains he helped with arrangements, meeting Vance in Butte, and then joining the motorcade.

     🇺🇸  Brown says Vance visited with Rupert Murdoch at his ranch, had dinner with the billionaire, and a nice walk with his wife before returning to Butte and flying out in the evening.