Month: May 2012
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Impeach Governor Schweitzer? More rancher extremism
Typical recent rancher activities underscores their extremism- Recently we reported on Arizona/Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy who thinks he doesn’t have to pay grazing fees because he thinks the federal government does not own the U.S. public lands where his grazing allotment (now rescinded) lies. He threatens force to prevent his illegal cattle from being impounded.…
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Wolf mortality in Idaho, a final toll. 48 – 59 percent of Idaho wolves killed in one year. (UPDATED 5-8-12)
The Wildlife News has finally obtained all of the records of documented mortality for wolves from April 1, 2011 up to April 1, 2012. This information tells a grim story about what the toll of handing over management to the State of Idaho has been on the Idaho wolf population. All told, based on some…
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Poorly investigated article about migrant agricultural workers and their whining employers.
The headline story of the Idaho Statesman investigates the whining of Idaho’s elite about how they can’t get migrant workers through the H2A migrant visa program fast enough. There is a serious problem with the article, which features a woolgrower who complains that the process is too onerous. It doesn’t even mention the wages offered…
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Part 3 of a 3 part series: Suggestions in changing Wildlife Services range from new practices to outright bans
In the final installment of the 3-part series, Tom Knudson investigates how the role of USDA Wildlife Services may change in the future. Should the agency be disbanded? Should it be reformed and given different responsibilities like controlling only invasive, non-native species? Should its predator control program be defunded? There is obviously a problem with…
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Montana FWP proposes to go the Idaho way on wolf hunting
No quotas, long seasons, trapping, electronic calls, 3 wolf bag limit- Many will argue that Montana FWP will throw caution out the window for wolf hunting in 2012-13 season. After two hunts in the space of three years did not clearly reduce the Montana wolf population, it looks like the state’s wildlife commission will issue…
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BLM Protections for Sage Grouse may not hit the ground for 10, possibly 20 years.
Resource Management Plans Won’t Affect Already Permitted Activities With a decision by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) about whether sage grouse should receive Endangered Species Act protection due by 2015, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has begun a process to revise the Resource Management Plans (RMP’s) which dictate how resources are managed…
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Grizzly bears are reoccupying the Gallatin Range north of Yellowstone Park (with update May 4)
Movement of bears into this good habitat was inevitable. Meanwhile Gallatin County Commissions say wolves, bears cougars are a big detriment to Bozeman, West Yellowstone areas- In Yellowstone Park where the Gallatin Range rises there is some of the very best grizzly habitat. For a long time grizzlies have also ranged about 10 miles north…