GREAT FALLS — The cold weather is delaying what the Toole County Sheriff’s Office is calling the recovery of two missing fishermen from Missoula County.
The two men camped on the north side of the Marias River were reported missing Monday when they didn’t return after leaving to visit another camp.
Tracks from their UTV led to open water and items from their UTV were found floating in the water.
Toole County Undersheriff Ryan Larson said the air temperature needs to get above zero before recovery efforts can safely begin.
"If somebody gets exposed to water, the air temperature being above zero makes the chance of somebody getting hurt less likely," he explained.
"Trying to get a conference call between us, Flathead County with their Two Bear Air Rescue that's been helping us, and Cascade County and develop a plan.”
The names of the two men have not yet been released.
The Sheriff’s Office reminds people to use extreme caution on the ice because there are parts of the river where the ice is unstable.
The names of the men have not been released at this point.
