[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 184 (Saturday, November 18, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S17439-S17440]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               MONTANA'S CENTER FOR WILDLIFE INFORMATION

  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, we all recognize general Norman 
Schwarzkopf as a great military leader. But what most Americans 
probably do not know is that he is also deeply devoted to the cause of 
conserving one of our most precious resources, our wildlife. In 
cooperation with a number of my constituents in Montana, General 
Schwarzkopf have been involved in a remarkable effort to increase 
public understanding and appreciation of the wildlife that help make 
Montana and America so special. As General Schwarzkopf has said:

       In traveling and living throughout all parts of our world, 
     I have learned that we possess in this country of ours and in 
     neighboring Canada one of the most marvelous arrays of 
     wildlife and wildlands found anywhere.

  Yet, as any Montanan can tell you, each year people are killed or 
injured and wildlife is lost unnecessarily because of conflicts that 
should have been avoided. So General Schwarzkopf and Chuck Bartlebaugh 
of Missoula, MT have decided to do something about it. The Center for 
Wildlife Information has been established in Missoula. By creating a 
series of public 

[[Page S 17440]]
service announcements, seminars, conferences, and other public 
education activities, they are working successfully to increase public 
respect and understanding of our wildlife resources.
  A project recently announced by the Center is particularly exciting. 
With the support of Plum Creek Timber Co., the Center for Wildlife 
Information and Columbia Falls Junior High, located close to the 
western gateway of Glacier National Park, are working to develop a 
bear-awareness and wildlife stewardship education program. Under the 
direction of Columbia Falls Junior High's principal Neal Wedum, 
students and teachers will write and design educational materials and 
teaching units on black bear and grizzly bear identification, 
techniques for safe hiking and camping in bear country, and techniques 
for viewing and photographing wildlife safely and responsibly. Students 
will also develop an educational unit about partnerships between 
corporations, communities, and wildlife management agencies in 
Montana's Seeley-Swan Grizzly Bear Corridor.
  In closing, Mr. President, I commend everyone involved in this 
remarkable effort: Chuck Bartlebaugh, Kris Backes of Plum Creek, and 
Principal Wedum, to name just a few. Congratulations and good work.

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