This issue has been very controversial, and the Service’s designation is very small. It is only 10% of what was first proposed, and it is almost entirely inside national parks where the designation hardly matters.
Story from the Daily InterLake (Kalispell, Montana).
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Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University with specialties in natural resource politics, public opinion, interest groups, political parties, voting and elections. Aside from academic publications, he is author or co-author of three hiking/backpacking guides, and he is President of the Western Watersheds Project.
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Oh sure, the cats will pay attention to political boundaries. Sure, sure. “The issue will remain controversial.
The cats will pay attention to political boundaries about as well as Mexican wolves do in the Southwest. The latter are constantly being trapped and translocated or returned to captivity for simply setting up territories outside the invisible, odorless boundaries of the “recovery area.” This is a major reason for the slow progress of the current reintroduction.
One can only hope that the new House Resources Committee chair will hold hearings to probe the workings of the U. S. Fish and WIldlife Service (and the rest of the federal agencies charged with protecting wildlife and managing public lands). It would be refreshing to see them once again paying at least a little attention to science as they go about their business.
Things are looking up considerably, I’d say. First, however, Pombo and others are hatching their plans for the congressional lame duck session, so no one can let down their guard.
Pombo is still saying he will try for endangered species act “reform.”