Gains were made on the Derby fire yesterday.
While the fire may still explode again, people are beginning to think about the aftermath effects on wildlife. My impression is that this fire has been hotter than the great Yellowstone fires of 1988, and the effects on fish and wildlife may be more severe. An article in the Billings Gazette speaks to the fish. Read article.
Of course, in 5 to 10 years things ought to be back to normal. The habitat might even be improved (especially for ungulates) as it has been the case with the many fires in central Idaho over the years. Of course, the landscape is dissimilar to central Idaho.
Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University. He was a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and was also its President for several years. For a long time he produced Ralph Maughan's Wolf Report. He was a founder of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. He and Jackie Johnson Maughan wrote three editions of "Hiking Idaho." He also wrote "Beyond the Tetons" and "Backpacking Wyoming's Teton and Washakie Wilderness." He created and is the administrator of The Wildlife News.
