The Wildlife News

A Project of Sage Steppe Wild

March 2007

  • Unparalleled views impress tourists at the opening of the Skywalk over the Grand Canyon

    Ralph Maughan

    This glass bottomed walk over the Grand Canyon is on the little-visited Indian Reservation part of the Canyon far downstream of where most tourists see the canyon. There are complaints about this intrusion, but I see it as little compared to the traffic jam of aerial sightseeing over the canyon. The purpose is to make…

  • "Montana, Don’t Be Another Wyoming," says Bill Schneider

    Ralph Maughan

    Columnist Bill Schneider at New West writes: Earlier this week, the Montana House of Representatives, on a 58-41 vote, passed an appropriation to send at least $150,000 in the hard-earned tax money to a Cheyenne law firm (Budd-Falen) to sue the federal government–at the same time cutting money for programs like all-day kindergarten, assistance for…

  • Groups say coal plant near Gillett, Wyoming, needn’t be so polluting

    Ralph Maughan

    We hear about the wonders of  “clean coal” technology all the time, but we hear about the actual deployment of dirty coal technology in the everyday world. We live in the everyday world. Story in the Billings Gazette. By Matthew Brown. AP

  • Fish and Wildlife extends wolf comment period to May 9

    Ralph Maughan

    Folks will have another month to comment on the proposed delisting of the wolf in Idaho and Montana. Fish and Wildlife extends wolf comment period to May 9

  • There is yet another Yellowstone snowmobile rule "finalized," except that the issue will continue

    Ralph Maughan

    Park winter divide persists By Whitney Royster. Casper Star-Tribune environmental reporter Wednesday, March 28, 2007 JACKSON — Yellowstone National Park officials released the fourth, and perhaps not the last, chapter in the debate surrounding snowmobiles in the park Tuesday. The National Park Service proposal would continue to allow use of snowmobiles in the park, but…

  • Sides clash as Sylvan Pass deadline looms.

    Ralph Maughan

    The Park Service seems to be resisting the organizing in Cody to continue the subsidized winter maintenance for snowmobiles over Sylvan Pass. It’s hard to believe that Cody businesses may for once have their sense of entitlement to the money you pay to enter the Park slapped down. Story in the Casper Star Tribune. Sides…

  • Defenders of Wildlife considers fate of grizzly payment program

    Ralph Maughan

    Defenders never seems to get credit for its program that reimburses ranchers for livestock losses to wolves. Ever fewer know they pay for losses to grizzly bears (except in Wyoming where the Game and Fish Department runs a “gravy train” for ranchers who say the lost livestock to grizzlies). Should Defenders continue paying for bears…

  • With Cellulosic Ethanol, There Is No Food Vs. Fuel Debate

    Ralph Maughan

    I commented several times on the stupidity of corn-based ethanol as a substitute for gasoline. It’s a very inefficient process and provides fuel at the expense of food. Already ethanol is raising the cost of growing livestock. However, cellulosic ethanol (alcohol made from the other parts of plants, not from the edible portion) has great…

Subscribe to get new posts right in your Inbox

‎”At some point we must draw a line across the ground of our home and our being, drive a spear into the land and say to the bulldozers, earthmovers, government and corporations, “thus far and no further.” If we do not, we shall later feel, instead of pride, the regret of Thoreau, that good but overly-bookish man, who wrote, near the end of his life, “If I repent of anything it is likely to be my good behaviour.”

Edward Abbey

“The continued existence of wildlife and wilderness is important to the quality of life of humans.”

Jim Fowler

“Our forests offer much more than just beautiful landscapes and wildlife. Each one has a different story to tell.”

Raveena Tandon

Latest Posts

×