Odd News|Woman awakened by a accidentally shooting

Montana - Flathead County officials say a Kalispell man was detained and later released after accidentally shooting a sleeping neighbor while cleaning a gun in his apartment. Sheriff Chuck Curry said that a 28-year-old woman called 911 at about 1:45 a.m. and said she was awakened by a burning sensation to her leg. A responding deputy confirmed she had been shot.  More…

Wolves kill 120 sheep at ranch

HELENA, Montana - While the debate about how many wolves are enough to ensure a healthy population will again come to a head in a federal courtroom. A Dillon-area ranch is picking up the pieces from the largest known wolf depredation in recent history. In a highly unusual move for wolves, they killed about 120 adult male sheep in one incident on a ranch south of Dillon.

Montana woman uses chickens as therapy animals

POLSON, Mont. – Therapy dogs can be a comfort for seniors and those recovering from illnesses and injuries. So how about therapy chickens? Jana Clairmont of Polson, Mont., calls her therapy birds — a white rooster and Cornish game hen — "Fowl Play."

On Thursday, she took them to visit residents at Polson Health and Rehabilitation Center in northeast Montana.

Many seniors were raised on farms, Clairmont says, and holding a chicken can bring back memories.

As one man stroked the rooster, Alex, the bird stretched out his neck and rested it across the man's forearm, like a puppy.

Clairmont has arranged visits to retirement and assisted living homes, and says she'd like to take Alex and Carlita, the hen, into classrooms this fall.

Information from: Missoulian, http://www.missoulian.com