There seems to be a concerted efforts to downvote No Kings announcements in local subs. Anyone else experiencing this? We experience this every time we have an event and it feels like there is some organized brigading either by bots or other people to limit our reach. https://www.reddit.com/r/missoula/s/27YDH0eNqO
For anyone following this: the Miller Creek Horse Alliance posted on Facebook that he got picked up. Most of us around here have been calling him Star for the white patch on his forehead, and the Alliance has been calling him Braveheart/Mischief. Someone with horse experience drove up with a trailer, he hopped right in, and he's now at a place with other horses, so he won't be alone out there this winter.
Plan from here is a vet visit, vaccines, and gelding, then about 30 days of training if they can raise the money, then a permanent home. They said adoption applications will be up soon.
If you want to chip in, they take checks at Miller Creek Horse Alliance, PO Box 3214, Missoula MT 59806. Venmo is coming.
Here's their post: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1565369221544377/permalink/1822731989141431/
Also, there are still horses up Miller Creek, so if you run into one, leave it alone.
Sinclair on Russell and 39th, September 21: $4.65 regular, $6.29 diesel. Day 205 since the Iran War started.
This time last year Missoula paid $3.09 for regular unleaded. Today it is $4.65. That is $1.56 more per gallon in one year, a 50.5% increase year over year.
Regular is up 6 cents since Thursday. Diesel holds at $6.29 for the fourth straight day. Montana statewide diesel hit $6.14 on Thursday per AAA. The national average was $6.31. Missoula remains above the statewide average.
Diesel is up $2.26 per gallon from this time last year, a 61.2% increase. Regular is up $1.87 from February 28.
The all-time Missoula diesel record was $5.98 on July 1, 2022. It fell September 11. Today's $6.29 sits $0.31 past it. The all-time Missoula unleaded record is $5.05 set June 15, 2022. We are $0.40 away from that one too.
205 days ago Missoula paid $2.78 for unleaded. The war started. Hormuz closed. Saudi Arabia lost its backup pipeline to Houthi attacks. Ukrainian drone strikes knocked out Russian refinery capacity equal to 17% of Russia's total output. Russia banned diesel exports. The Houthis seized two ports on Yemen's western coast and now threaten the only remaining shipping alternative to Hormuz.
Every one of those events traces back to Trump's decision to launch Operation Epic Fury on February 28.
Full timeline, Missoula regular unleaded:
| Date | Price | Change | % Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 5 (pre-war low) | $2.75 | — | — |
| Feb 28 (war starts) | $2.78 | — | — |
| Mar 7 | $3.09 | +$0.31 | +11% |
| Mar 18 | $3.44 | +$0.66 | +24% |
| Mar 25 | $3.59 | +$0.81 | +29% |
| Apr 6 | $3.84 | +$1.06 | +38% |
| Apr 8 (ceasefire) | — | — | — |
| Apr 13 | $3.99 | +$1.21 | +44% |
| Apr 28 | $4.19 | +$1.41 | +51% |
| Apr 30 | $4.29 | +$1.51 | +54% |
| May 5 | $4.49 | +$1.71 | +62% |
| May 16 (peak) | $4.69 | +$1.91 | +69% |
| Jun 22 | $4.09 | +$1.31 | +47% |
| Jul 6 (low point) | $3.82 | +$1.04 | +37% |
| Jul 10 (ceasefire ends) | — | — | — |
| Jul 27 | $4.26 | +$1.48 | +53% |
| Aug 12 | $4.29 | +$1.51 | +54% |
| Aug 21 | $4.36 avg | +$1.58 | +57% |
| Aug 28 | $4.39 | +$1.61 | +58% |
| Sep 10 | $4.39 / diesel $5.89 | +$1.61 | +58% |
| Sep 11 | $4.49 / diesel $5.99 | +$1.71 | +61% |
| Sep 14-15 | $4.49 / diesel $6.09 | +$1.71 | +61% |
| Sep 16 | $4.59 / diesel $6.19 | +$1.81 | +65% |
| Sep 17 | $4.59 / diesel $6.29 | +$1.81 | +65% |
| Sep 21 (today) | $4.65 / diesel $6.29 | +$1.87 | +67% |
Missoula all-time unleaded record: $5.05 on June 15, 2022. We are $0.40 away.
Missoula all-time diesel record: $5.98 on July 1, 2022. Broken September 11. Today's $6.29 is $0.31 past it.
The Ford F-250 Super Duty, the most common diesel pickup on Montana ranches and job sites, has a 48-gallon tank. At $6.29 that is $302.16. On Feb 28 at $3.47 it was $166.56. That is $135.60 more per fill-up.
How long are we going to put up with this?
Montana Senate election: November 3, 2026. 43 days away. Contact your representatives now.
Sen. Steve Daines (not seeking reelection) 202-224-2651 https://www.daines.senate.gov/contact
Sen. Tim Sheehy 202-224-2644 https://www.sheehy.senate.gov/contact
Rep. Ryan Zinke (Missoula, MT-1) 202-225-5628 https://zinke.house.gov/contact
We were under $3.00 before this war. Remember that.
Sources: Personal observation Missoula (Sep 21), AAA/NBC Montana (Sep 17), Stacker/AAA (Sep 14), KULR8 (Sep 14), KGVO (Sep 22, 2025)
Concerned? Contact President Jeremiah Shinn, Office of the President at the University Montana
Contact Information
Phone: (406) 243-2311
Email: thepresident@umontana.edu
Mail:
University Hall 109
32 Campus Drive
Missoula, MT 59812
$4.59 unleaded and $6.19 diesel in Missoula today. $0.46 from Missoula's all-time unleaded record of $5.05. 199 days in. How long are we going to do this?
Sinclair on Russell and 39th, September 16: $4.59 regular, $6.19 diesel. Regular is up 10 cents since Monday. Diesel is up 10 cents since yesterday. The national all-time diesel record set September 14 was $6.183. Missoula is above it.
This is not stabilizing. Every supply line that moves oil to your pump is under simultaneous pressure right now. Hormuz closed by the Iran war. Saudi Arabia's East-West backup pipeline shut down after Houthi attacks wounded 70 people last week. The Houthis now control Mokha port and Perim Island on Yemen's western coast, putting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the last remaining shipping alternative to Hormuz, within their reach. Two more Russian refineries knocked offline by drone strikes over the weekend. Russia's diesel export ban through September. Saudi Arabia at its lowest export level in a decade.
None of this happens without the decision to go to war with Iran on February 28.
Full timeline, Missoula regular unleaded:
| Date | Price | Change | % Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 5 (pre-war low) | $2.75 | — | — |
| Feb 28 (war starts) | $2.78 | — | — |
| Mar 7 | $3.09 | +$0.31 | +11% |
| Mar 18 | $3.44 | +$0.66 | +24% |
| Mar 25 | $3.59 | +$0.81 | +29% |
| Apr 6 | $3.84 | +$1.06 | +38% |
| Apr 8 (ceasefire) | — | — | — |
| Apr 13 | $3.99 | +$1.21 | +44% |
| Apr 28 | $4.19 | +$1.41 | +51% |
| Apr 30 | $4.29 | +$1.51 | +54% |
| May 5 | $4.49 | +$1.71 | +62% |
| May 16 (peak) | $4.69 | +$1.91 | +69% |
| Jun 22 | $4.09 | +$1.31 | +47% |
| Jul 6 (low point) | $3.82 | +$1.04 | +37% |
| Jul 10 (ceasefire ends) | — | — | — |
| Jul 27 | $4.26 | +$1.48 | +53% |
| Aug 12 | $4.29 | +$1.51 | +54% |
| Aug 21 | $4.36 avg | +$1.58 | +57% |
| Aug 28 | $4.39 | +$1.61 | +58% |
| Sep 10 | $4.39 / diesel $5.89 | +$1.61 | +58% |
| Sep 11 | $4.49 / diesel $5.99 | +$1.71 | +61% |
| Sep 14-15 | $4.49 / diesel $6.09 | +$1.71 | +61% |
| Sep 16 (today) | $4.59 / diesel $6.19 | +$1.81 | +65% |
Missoula all-time unleaded record: $5.05 on June 15, 2022. We are $0.46 away. At this pace that record falls this week.
Missoula all-time diesel record: $5.98 on July 1, 2022. Broken September 11. Today's $6.19 extends the new record.
The Ford F-250 Super Duty, the most common diesel pickup on Montana ranches and job sites, has a 48-gallon tank. At $6.19 that is $297.12. On Feb 28 at $3.47 it was $166.56. That gap is now $130.56 per fill-up.
How long are we going to put up with this?
Montana has a Senate election November 3, 2026. Contact your representatives and ask them what they are doing about fuel costs in Missoula.
Sen. Steve Daines (not seeking reelection) 202-224-2651 https://www.daines.senate.gov/contact
Sen. Tim Sheehy 202-224-2644 https://www.sheehy.senate.gov/contact
Rep. Ryan Zinke (Missoula, MT-1) 202-225-5628 https://zinke.house.gov/contact
We were under $3.00 before this war. Remember that.
Sources: Personal observation Missoula (Sep 16), GasBuddy (Sep 14), OilGasPrices.com/AAA (Sep 14), AP (Sep 14), NPR (Sep 14), WLOS (Sep 14), WUSF (Sep 14), Stacker/AAA (Mar 23), mt.gov congressional delegation
So a local company called CubCloud AI put out a press release saying they've applied to be Montana's first Tesla Cybercab fleet operator, meaning driverless robotaxis running around Missoula and eventually other Montana cities. I've got three separate problems with this and none of them are "new technology bad."
First, surveillance. Cybercab has no steering wheel or pedals, it drives entirely off cameras, and according to Tesla's own rider guide it also has a cabin camera pointed at whoever's riding in it. Tesla says that camera tracks whether the car is occupied and checks the cabin for cleanliness and left items after you get out. There's also a microphone that sends audio to Tesla when a rider contacts support or when the car detects a safety event. So you've got a company applying to run cars that watch and listen to whoever's inside them, on top of the cameras already doing the driving.
Second, data. CubCloud's entire pitch as a company, the thing on their own website, is that your data stays local, stays in Montana, full data sovereignty. Kind of funny then that the second they're talking about Cybercab, the data goes to Tesla instead, not to CubCloud servers in Missoula. Whatever gets picked up by that cabin camera and mic goes into Tesla's system, not the "your data stays here" system CubCloud sells to everyone else.
Third, accidents. Tesla only put the actual Cybercab on real roads in Austin on September 3rd. NHTSA opened a federal investigation into it that same week, over whether Tesla even certified the thing correctly since it's missing basically every manual control federal safety rules assume a car has. And that's separate from Tesla's regular robotaxi service in Austin, still running with a human safety monitor up front, which has already had a bunch of crashes since launching last summer, including videos of these things driving down the wrong side of the road and slamming the brakes out of nowhere.
Put those three things together. Cameras and mics inside the car. Your data routed to a company states away instead of staying local like Missoula companies usually promise. A vehicle that's currently under federal investigation for how it was even approved to be on the road in the first place. And Montana's own law covering fully driverless vehicles still hasn't finished the rulemaking it's supposed to go through.
I don't think "trust us" cuts it when you're talking about putting cameras and mics on wheels and driving them around town before the safety questions and the data questions are even settled.
Full release is up on MATR: https://matr.net/news/cubcloud-ai-applies-to-become-montanas-first-tesla-cybercab-provider/
184 days in. Sinclair on 39th: $4.39 unleaded Friday August 28, $5.39 diesel Wednesday August 26. No fanfare. Just another week in Missoula.
The numbers at this point speak for themselves. What started as a war overseas is now a fixed line item in every Missoula household budget. $65.85 to fill a 15-gallon tank. Six months ago that was $41.70.
The brief window of relief this summer is worth noting. Seven weeks of falling prices after the April ceasefire. People made plans. Drove to Glacier. Stopped doing the math at the pump. Then July 10 arrived, the ceasefire collapsed, and within two weeks every penny of that relief was clawed back.
Montana went from 25th cheapest state for gas in January to 10th most expensive by August. The national average today is $4.08. We are above it.
Full timeline, Missoula regular unleaded:
| Date | Price | Change | % Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 5 (pre-war low) | $2.75 | — | — |
| Feb 28 (war starts) | $2.78 | — | — |
| Mar 7 | $3.09 | +$0.31 | +11% |
| Mar 18 | $3.44 | +$0.66 | +24% |
| Mar 25 | $3.59 | +$0.81 | +29% |
| Apr 6 | $3.84 | +$1.06 | +38% |
| Apr 8 (ceasefire) | — | — | — |
| Apr 13 | $3.99 | +$1.21 | +44% |
| Apr 28 | $4.19 | +$1.41 | +51% |
| Apr 30 | $4.29 | +$1.51 | +54% |
| May 5 | $4.49 | +$1.71 | +62% |
| May 16 (peak) | $4.69 | +$1.91 | +69% |
| Jun 22 | $4.09 | +$1.31 | +47% |
| Jul 6 (low point) | $3.82 | +$1.04 | +37% |
| Jul 10 (ceasefire ends) | — | — | — |
| Jul 27 | $4.26 | +$1.48 | +53% |
| Aug 12 | $4.29 | +$1.51 | +54% |
| Aug 21 | $4.36 avg | +$1.58 | +57% |
| Aug 26 (diesel $5.39) | — | — | — |
| Aug 28 | $4.39 | +$1.61 | +58% |
Missoula is $0.66 from its all-time gas record ($5.05, Jun 15 2022) and $0.59 from its all-time diesel record ($5.98, Jul 1 2022).
We were under $3.00 before this war. Remember that.
Sources: Personal observation Missoula (Aug 26-28), AAA (Aug 31), OilGasPrices.com (Aug 30), Stacker/AAA (Aug 17 and Mar 23), KGVO
Correction: the Missoula all-time diesel record was cited as $5.91. Cross-referencing AAA and Stacker Missoula metro data confirms the correct figure is $5.98 on July 1, 2022. The statewide Montana diesel record is $5.91, the Missoula metro record is higher.
If you've noticed an unusually high surge in your power bill from NorthWestern Energy recently that's quite a bit different from the same month last year, you're not alone and a state agency wants to hear from you.
The Montana Public Service Commission recently announced that they're aware of many NorthWestern customers seeing a significant increase on their August billing statements.
Authorities in Cascade County are investigating allegedly illegal signature gathering activity there earlier this year by a firm working for the independent campaigns of U.S. Senate candidate Seth Bodnar and U.S. House hopeful Michael Eisenhauer.
A Utah-based real estate developer who sparked controversy in Missoula in 2021 for his involvement with a riverfront development and his bigoted and aggressive comments to critics has pleaded guilty to three financial crime charges.
Aaron Wagner, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Utah federal court before Magistrate Judge Jared Bennett to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of bank fraud.
First day of school for K-12 starts tomorrow. Let’s all slow down and watch for kids.
Yesterday I saw a person on their phone plow into a fawn that could have been easily avoided had they been going the speed limit and not on their phone. That could have been a kid.
Please have better situational awareness while driving. If you need to use the phone pull over first. Let’s make sure all our kids make it home.
Sinclair in Missoula posted $4.39 unleaded and $5.39 diesel Thursday evening. The Missoula metro average today is $4.36. Montana statewide is $4.39. Diesel statewide is $5.37.
On Feb 28 the war started. Missoula was at $2.78 for unleaded. Diesel was $3.47. A 15-gallon fill cost $41.70. Thursday night that same fill was $65.85.
The ceasefire declared April 8 brought seven straight weeks of price drops through early July. July 10 the ceasefire was declared dead. Hormuz closed July 12. Strikes resumed July 13. Every cent recovered during those seven weeks was gone within days.
Full timeline, Missoula regular unleaded:
| Date | Price | Change | % Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 5 (pre-war low) | $2.75 | — | — |
| Feb 28 (war starts) | $2.78 | — | — |
| Mar 7 | $3.09 | +$0.31 | +11% |
| Mar 18 | $3.44 | +$0.66 | +24% |
| Mar 25 | $3.59 | +$0.81 | +29% |
| Apr 6 | $3.84 | +$1.06 | +38% |
| Apr 8 (ceasefire) | — | — | — |
| Apr 13 | $3.99 | +$1.21 | +44% |
| Apr 28 | $4.19 | +$1.41 | +51% |
| Apr 30 | $4.29 | +$1.51 | +54% |
| May 5 | $4.49 | +$1.71 | +62% |
| May 16 (peak) | $4.69 | +$1.91 | +69% |
| Jun 22 | $4.09 | +$1.31 | +47% |
| Jul 6 (low point) | $3.82 | +$1.04 | +37% |
| Jul 10 (ceasefire ends) | — | — | — |
| Jul 27 | $4.26 | +$1.48 | +53% |
| Aug 12 | $4.29 | +$1.51 | +54% |
| Aug 21 (today) | $4.36 avg / $4.39 Sinclair | +$1.58-1.61 | +57-58% |
Missoula all-time gas record: $5.05 on June 15, 2022. Current Missoula diesel statewide average: $5.37, up $1.50 per gallon year over year (+40.6%). All-time diesel record: $5.98 on July 1, 2022.
Montana was ranked 25th in the country for gas prices in January. As of August 10 it was ranked 10th.
We were under $3.00 before this war. Remember that.
Sources: Personal observation Missoula (Aug 20), AAA/FuelWide (Aug 21), Stacker/AAA (Aug 17), KGVO, CNN Iran war timeline
The owners of the Old Post Hospital in Fort Missoula received a final demolition permit from the City of Missoula on Thursday to remove the 114-year-old building.
The future of the hospital has been debated over the last several years as the private owners eyed developing the surrounding land, but after the city denied its plans, the owners sought demolition.
Remember in June when gas dropped back to $3.82 and it felt like maybe this was almost over? Yeah. About that.
Sinclair in Missoula hit $4.29 last night. Diesel is at $5.29.
Here's what actually happened between May and now. A ceasefire was declared April 8. Prices started falling. Seven straight weeks of drops through early July. People started to breathe again. Then on July 10 Trump announced the ceasefire was no longer in effect. The Strait of Hormuz closed again on July 12. Strikes resumed July 13. Prices shot right back up. The naval blockade was reimposed. As of this week the ceasefire is in tatters, talks have faltered, and Iran says the US violated every commitment it made.
So that seven-week break we got? Gone. Erased. We're right back to where we were in late April.
Full timeline, Missoula regular unleaded:
| Date | Price | Change | % Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 5 (pre-war low) | $2.75 | — | — |
| Feb 28 (war starts) | $2.78 | — | — |
| Mar 7 | $3.09 | +$0.31 | +11% |
| Mar 18 | $3.44 | +$0.66 | +24% |
| Mar 25 | $3.59 | +$0.81 | +29% |
| Apr 6 | $3.84 | +$1.06 | +38% |
| Apr 8 (ceasefire) | — | — | — |
| Apr 13 | $3.99 | +$1.21 | +44% |
| Apr 28 | $4.19 | +$1.41 | +51% |
| Apr 30 | $4.29 | +$1.51 | +54% |
| May 5 | $4.49 | +$1.71 | +62% |
| May 16 (peak) | $4.69 | +$1.91 | +69% |
| Jun 22 (relief) | $4.09 | +$1.31 | +47% |
| Jul 6 (low point) | $3.82 | +$1.04 | +37% |
| Jul 10 (ceasefire ends) | — | — | — |
| Jul 27 | $4.26 | +$1.48 | +53% |
| Aug 12 morning | $4.19 | +$1.41 | +51% |
| Aug 12 evening | $4.29 | +$1.51 | +54% |
That dip in June and July wasn't a recovery. It was a pause. The war is still going. The blockade is back. Talks are dead in the water. And now on top of everything, Saudi tankers are rerouting around Africa to avoid Houthi blockades in the Red Sea, adding two weeks to every delivery.
There is no off-ramp that anyone in charge seems willing to take.
We were under $3.00 before any of this started. Remember that.
Sources: CNN Iran War live blog (Aug 12), KGVO, GasBuddy (Aug 10), AAA (Aug 12), ACE, Wikipedia ceasefire timeline
Spotted $4.19 unleaded and $5.09 diesel at Sinclair in Missoula today. Montana is now $1.02 more per gallon than this time last year. We're ranked 10th most expensive state in the country. That's where we are 165 days into this war.
For context, we were at $2.78 the day it started.
Full timeline, Missoula regular unleaded:
| Date | Price | Change | % Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 5 (pre-war low) | $2.75 | — | — |
| Feb 28 (war starts) | $2.78 | — | — |
| Mar 7 | $3.09 | +$0.31 | +11% |
| Mar 18 | $3.44 | +$0.66 | +24% |
| Mar 25 | $3.59 | +$0.81 | +29% |
| Apr 6 | $3.84 | +$1.06 | +38% |
| Apr 13 | $3.99 | +$1.21 | +44% |
| Apr 28 | $4.19 | +$1.41 | +51% |
| Apr 30 | $4.29 | +$1.51 | +54% |
| May 5 | $4.49 | +$1.71 | +62% |
| May 13 | $4.59 | +$1.81 | +65% |
| May 16 (peak) | $4.69 | +$1.91 | +69% |
| Jun 1 | $4.39-4.69 | +$1.61-1.91 | +58-69% |
| Jun 22 | $4.09 | +$1.31 | +47% |
| Jul 6 | $3.82 | +$1.04 | +37% |
| Jul 20 | $3.99-4.06 | +$1.21-1.28 | +43-46% |
| Jul 27 | $4.26 | +$1.48 | +53% |
| Aug 12 (today) | $4.19 | +$1.41 | +51% |
Prices peaked in mid-May then fell seven weeks straight when diplomacy looked like it might go somewhere. The moment talks fell apart, prices shot back up. We're still $1.41 above where we started and there's no deal in sight.
Fill up a 15-gallon tank today and you're paying $21 more than you were on Feb 28. Got a diesel pickup with a 48-gallon tank? That's $78 more. Every time.
Cheapest station in Montana right now: $3.86. Most expensive: $5.34.
We were under $3.00 before this war. Remember that.
Sources: KGVO, GasBuddy (Aug 10), AAA (Aug 12), Stacker, Northern Plains Independent
MISSOULA — On Wednesday, workers at Providence St. Patrick Hospital voted overwhelmingly to unionize, 446 - 102.
Now, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW is headed to the negotiating table.
Missoula man who observed Sentinel High School classes as part of a University of Montana education degree program has been charged with attempting to groom and sexually abuse children, according to court documents.
Joshua Malcolm Martelon, 26, has been charged in Missoula County District Court with four counts of sexual abuse of children: one by communication, one by grooming, one by attempted travel with intent and one by attempted possession of material.
Miramonte has broken ground on part of the Midtown Commons project and cleared trees on site, while the lawsuit challenging the land sale is still active with no hearing date set. This is now confirmed by the Missoulian, not just resident reports.
What's happened most recently:
Miramonte Companies started construction Tuesday, July 29, extending Harve Avenue to add water, sewer, and street infrastructure for the first phase of townhomes. Tree removal began as part of that work, including a large tree at Ernest Avenue and Schilling Street. The city's urban forestry department had approved the tree removals. Two parcels, the section behind Bob Ward's and a separate 2.9-acre parcel near Mary Avenue, have now been officially transferred to Miramonte. Most of "the grove" is still city-owned pending boundary line relocations, which also don't have a hearing date yet.
Carrie Schreiber, a neighbor opposed to the deal, spoke at Wednesday's council meeting, saying tree removal began before easements were vacated and before the legal claim had even been heard by a judge.
Background on the lawsuit:
A nonprofit called Rooted in Environmental Justice sued the City of Missoula in June over the Midtown Commons development. The suit claims Council illegally approved the project when it voted May 18 to sell 15 acres near Southgate Mall to Miramonte Companies for $7.2 million, plus $10 million in Tax Increment Financing for public infrastructure.
Main claims in the lawsuit:
Plaintiffs want the land sale paused and an environmental review required. Attorneys are Davis Wilson Jr. and Robert Farris-Olsen; case is before Judge Shane Vannatta. No hearing has been set.
Sources: Original lawsuit article (July 16): https://archive.ph/BrqNW
Groundbreaking/tree removal article (July 30): https://archive.ph/Ugo2F
Photo: Carrie Schreiber
EDIT: Corrected and updated based on the Missoulian's July 30 article, which confirmed the tree removal directly rather than relying only on resident reports. Removal happened Tuesday, July 29, and was approved in advance by the city's urban forestry department. Construction has also started on infrastructure for the first phase, and two parcels have already been transferred to Miramonte. No hearing date has been set in either the lawsuit or the pending boundary line relocation.
Results from the initial study showed that cadmium, copper, zinc, arsenic and lead concentrations — priority contaminants also known as the “Clark Fork Five” — were either low or variable in osprey chicks. But there was something else that showed up. Mercury levels were extremely high depending on the nest’s location, and between Drummond and Missoula, osprey nestlings showed a spike in the amount of mercury in their blood, with the source later traced to a contaminated tributary home to a former gold and silver mill.