Deep Dive

Daily Inter Lake reporter Hailey Smalley returns to talk with host Taylor Inman about the final story in her Outdoor Lab series - a night spent with Glacier National Park biologist Lisa Bates at her annual "Going Batty" event.

Bates, a bird researcher who has expanded into bat surveys, walked Hailey through why bats matter to the ecosystem and the growing threat of white nose syndrome, a fungal disease first identified in New York in 2006 that can kill between 70 and 90 percent of an infected colony. The fungus has already been detected near Libby Dam, and researchers are field testing a vaccine on microchipped bats as a possible defense before it reaches Glacier's colonies. Hailey also describes the mist-netting and species identification process firsthand, including catching one of only a handful of big brown bats researchers have recorded in the park.

If you haven't already, go back and check out our companion episode covering the snow algae and bumble bee stories on YouTube or audio!

You can read Hailey's full reporting on all three stories - snow algae, bumble bees and bats - in the Daily Inter Lake, in print and online.  Learn more about USGS project site for the white-nose syndrome vaccine here. 

Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
00:56 - Meet Lisa Bates and Going Batty Night
03:02 - What Is White Nose Syndrome
06:34 - The Vaccine Trial at Libby Dam
10:22 - Lisa Bates' Bat Research Begins
12:46 - Catching and Examining Bats
16:20 - Echolocation and Species ID
19:46 - Why the Unknown Matters
20:49 - Outro and Companion Episode

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Daily Inter Lake reporter Hailey Smalley talks with host Taylor Inman about the first of her two stories in her Outdoor Lab series - snow algae at Logan Pass and a bumble bee survey in an alpine meadow.

Hailey spent time this summer with Carroll College researcher Ashley Beck, sampling snow algae at Logan Pass in Glacier National Park - the organism behind the pink red "watermelon snow" hikers spot on late-season snowfields, and a species researchers are only beginning to understand. 

Hailey and Taylor also joined USGS researcher Tabitha Graves for a bumble bee survey in an alpine meadow, learning how scientists net, chill, photograph and release bees to track species that are in decline nationwide. Montana ties for second in the country for bumble bee species diversity, and Graves' work - including a Western bumble bee species of concern and a nest-parasite called the cuckoo bumble bee - is helping researchers understand what's actually out there.

You can read Hailey's full reporting on all three stories - snow algae, bumble bees and bats - in the Daily Inter Lake, in print and online. Learn more about Montana Bumble Bee Atlas at bumblebeeatlas.org and more about USGS bumble bee projects: here and here.

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to Outdoor Lab Series
00:56 - Meet Ashley Buck (Carroll College): Studying Snow Algae
02:06 - Choosing Which Species to Follow
03:12 - What Is Watermelon Snow?
05:55 - Ashley's Public Presentation in Glacier
08:10 - Why This Research Matters
10:26 - A Day in the Field at Logan Pass
13:29 - Meet Tabitha Graves (USGS): Studying Bumble Bees
15:22 - Catching Bumble Bees by Hand
21:52 - Montana's Bumble Bee Species Count
25:50 - What's next

Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and subscribe to us! 

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Inside the Flathead County Jail, aging pipes leak sewage, officers walk 12-hour shifts through overcrowded cells, and inmates struggling with mental health have nowhere to turn. As Flathead County voters weigh a $105 million bond to build a new detention facility, the Daily Inter Lake goes behind bars for an unfiltered look at the conditions facing inmates and officers alike. Join reporters Taylor Inman and Hannah Shields as they spend a day inside the jail, talk with Sheriff Brian Heino and Flathead County Commissioner Pam Holmquist, and uncover what’s truly at stake for the community.

Are you a Kalispell voter? Municipal ballots were mailed October 17th to registered voters. Eligible residents can confirm registration, find ballot return details, and learn about in-person voting options by visiting the Flathead County Election Department website - https://flatheadcounty.gov/department-directory/election

Want the latest updates on local elections? Visit https://www.dailyinterlake.com/news/local-elections/ for the latest developments.

Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and subscribe to us! 

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In Part Two, the Brist siblings load up 22 animals and head to the Northwest Montana Fair. From nail-biting moments in the show ring to triumphant wins, heartbreaking goodbyes, and new plans for the future, this is the culmination of a summer’s hard work. Experience the joy, the tears, and the legacy of a Montana family carrying on generations of livestock tradition. 

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In Part One of this Daily Inter Lake special, step onto the gravel road leading to Lone Lake Farm, where the Brist children—fifth-generation ranchers—prepare sheep, goats, and steers for the Northwest Montana Fair. From 5:30 a.m. chores to training in the show ring, the Brist kids share the dedication, sacrifice, and deep bond that comes with raising livestock. This is more than farming—it’s family tradition, resilience, and lessons that last a lifetime.

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This summer, we followed the Brist family from their fifth-generation Montana farm to the bright lights of the Northwest Montana Fair. From early morning chores to the intensity of the show ring, their journey shows the hard work, tradition, and bittersweet goodbyes that come with raising livestock. Discover Season 4 of our Deep Dive podcast, From Farm to Fair — coming Sunday, September 21st! 

Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and subscribe to us! 

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Months after the devastating fire that wiped out Noxon’s beloved businesses, the town is still searching for answers — and a way forward. In part two of this series, Daily Inter Lake News Editor Derrick Perkins hears from local business owners, firefighters, and longtime residents about the lasting impact of the fire and the uncertainty of what comes next. From the Hereford Bar’s relentless rebuild after two separate fires to the debate over whether new businesses will rise from the ashes, Noxon is at a crossroads. Will it bounce back, or will it become another forgotten town? 

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In the early hours of Feb. 27, 2024, a devastating fire tore through Noxon, Montana, reducing its historic downtown to ashes. First responders raced to contain the flames, but within hours, beloved local landmarks — the Angry Beaver General Store, the Mercantile and Café, and Toby’s Tavern — were gone. In part one of this two-part series, Daily Inter Lake News Editor Derrick Perkins hears firsthand accounts from firefighters, business owners and residents as they relive the chaos, heartbreak and resilience that followed. What caused the fire? Could anything have stopped it? And how did the town come together in the aftermath?

Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and subscribe to us! 

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In Season 3 of Daily Inter Lake's Deep Dive podcast, reporter Derrick Perkins explores the devastating fire that struck the small town of Noxon, Montana. By the end of the day on February 27, 2024, three-quarters of the town’s business community were wiped out.  Almost a year later, the town still wondered: Can Noxon recover? What will rise from the ashes? 

Listen to the two-part story on any audio platform you prefer, or watch the series on our YouTube channel.

Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and subscribe to us! 

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Join Kate Heston for our last episode of Season 2, as she explores Keith Hammer's decades-long battle to protect Montana’s iconic grizzly bears through the power of the Endangered Species Act. As president of the Swan View Coalition, Hammer has tirelessly fought against forest management practices that threaten wildlife, using litigation to halt projects impacting grizzly habitats. We delve into the legal and political challenges that have shaped—and continue to shape—conservation in Montana. From court victories to confrontations with state and federal agencies, this episode reveals the complexities and stakes of preserving Montana’s wild legacy for future generations.

Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and subscribe to us! 

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