Forest in Focus Custer Gallatin National Forest

Safeguarding Bears and Visitors: Understanding the Food Storage Order

In this episode, "Safeguarding Bears and Visitors: Understanding the Food Storage Order," we speak with Josh Hemenway, the Wildlife Program Manager in a Question and Answer style interview as we discuss an important topic for all visitors: the Food Storage Order. This regulation plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of both visitors and wildlife, particularly bears. Host: Charity Parks, Custer Gallatin National Forest Public Affairs Specialist Guest Speakers: Josh Hemenway, Custer Gallatin National Forest Wildlife Program Manager

Patrolling the Frozen Frontier: Inside the Snowmobile Operations for Law Enforcement Course

When the pavement stops and snow reaches shoulder height, the dynamics of law enforcement transform completely. In this episode, we delve into the Snowmobile Operations for Law Enforcement Course (SOLEC), a three-day intensive training led by law enforcement professionals from the Custer Gallatin National Forest. This program equips officers from various agencies to become adept backcountry operators. Uncover why being stuck in chest-deep powder is viewed as the ultimate "benchmark for trying hard" and how enduring a full-body workout at 9,000 feet is an essential part of the role. We go beyond the fundamentals to explore the "art" of winter policing—where officers from nationwide agencies learn to handle life-and-death situations in extreme cold, reaching fifty degrees below zero. From the tactical "shock and awe" of high-speed snowmobile pursuits to the somber duty of conducting backcountry coroner investigations, discover how this training addresses a crucial gap in public safety. Whether enforcing trail registrations or coordinating a midnight search and rescue, learn what it takes to uphold law and order in a landscape where the "tree always wins." Host: Morgan De Meyer, Custer Gallatin National Forest Public Affairs Specialist Guest Speakers: Brad Bolte, Custer Gallatin National Forest Patrol Captain Dan Hayden, Gallatin County' Sheriff's Office Seargent Gabe Gassman, formerCuster Gallatin National Forest Law Enforcement Officer