Very important hearings on how many and where grizzlies will be allowed to live in Western Montana begin soon. The is a state, not a federal process.
“The plan focuses on grizzly bears — or potential populations — in the Northern Continental Divide [NCDE], Cabinet-Yaak and Bitterroot ecosystems. The plan looks at grizzly bear populations and habitat in 17 Montana counties.”
It does not include the Montana portion of the Greater Yellowstone grizzly bear population, but includes the grizzly bear extinct Bitterroot ecosystem which is a seamless whole extending from Montana across most of central Idaho.
I would urge strong support for keeping the Cabinet-Yaak ecosystem a high priority and facilitating natural migration of grizzlies into central Idaho.
Central Idaho could be the salvation of the grizzly bear. It could support almost as many bears as the Greater Yellowstone. Grizzlies were on tap for reintroduction, but when Gale Norton came in as Secretary of Interior, she listened to Idaho’s governor Dirk Kempthorne who spoke fearfully of the great bear (some said it was almost like he was personally frightened). Now this outdoors-challenged man is Secretary of Interior.
It would funny if Montanans stood up for their states rights and said we aren’t afraid. We want bears in the Bitterroots — bears to match our mountains.
Continue Reading →The Western Watersheds Project continues its amazing run of appeals against Forest Service and BLM condoned livestock grazing abuses. Here they planned to open up part of the Santa Rosa Wilderness in Northern Nevada to livestock grazing, but the regional office of the Forest Service (region 4–Intermountain Region) struck down the new grazing “plan” by […]
Continue Reading →Some residents of this town fear the fire will take their town. Personally, I doubt it because it is out on the plains. No forest connects the fire to the town. Map
The fire is now 207,000 acres. Official hope to check Derby Fire. By Mike Stark. Billings Gazette.
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