The Animal Kingdom

Well it looks like the Idaho legislature is watering down the already weak legislation which would regulate canned elk-hunting operations.  A proposed amendment would require ranchers to “knowingly” violate state law before the state could revoke their license.  Read the Statesman’s article… 

FYI: Pocatello 12 Public TV produced a video entitled “Threat to Idaho Wildlife: Game Farms” awhile back.  As a matter of disclosure - as the title suggests, the video does NOT claim to represent the pro end of this - but it’s an interesting discussion which represents some of the concern I thought some people might be interest in.  The online version is available here. 30 min.

Well it looks like the Idaho legislature is watering down the already weak legislation which would regulate canned elk-hunting operations.  A proposed amendment would require ranchers to “knowingly” violate state law before the state could revote their license.  Read the Statesman’s article… 

Ted Williams has written a very interesting article on ethanol. 

“America’s corn-based ethanol program carries high costs in fish, wildlife and tax dollars.”

Check out Under the Influence of Ethanol on Ted Williams’ Conservation Connection.

The Billings Gazette has an interesting story on mineral leases that BLM intends to auction in Montana despite state wildlife officials protesting the move.  Gas developement could jeopordize quite a bit of habitat and “The development could undercut 100 years worth of conservation efforts across the state.” says T.O. Smith, fish and wildlife planner for FWP.  Read the rest of the Billings Gazette story.

A black wolf is said to have been sighted in the Wenaha Wildlife Area in Oregon and tracks found all around outside of Troy.  Ralph has posted in the past that There is at least one wolf in NE Oregon and Wild wolves again might be at home in Oregon.  This one seems to be in the same general area.  Read the AP’s story in The Olympian - or KTVB.COM for a longer version with more information.

“EPHRATA, Wash. - Wildlife officials Tuesday released 20 Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits that were raised in captivity to a sagebrush-covered area of central Washington state where their ancestors roamed before teetering on the edge of extinction.”   Read More from the Register-Guard…

From Western Watersheds Blog:

The Idaho Statesman has an interesting article on a new bill that would study the economics of breaching four of the lower Snake River dams.  Idaho’s federal politicians are already fortifying with Idaho economy guru, Bill Sali, introducing a “sense of Congress” resolution - which promises to deliver an enticing analogy.  If Idahoans are lucky, C-SPAN will be there to demonstrate to the world a confluence of phenonena that will answer the uniquely Idahoan question:

Gravity abolition and canned salmon - What do these two things have in common? 

Idahoans know,  unfortunately the rest of the world is about to find out…

Bill asks for new studies of salmon

Measure doesn’t call for dam breaching but calls for look at economics of removal

By Kevin Diaz - Statesman Washington Bureau Edition Date: 03/14/07 WASHINGTON — Environmentalists targeting the removal of the four lower Snake River dams rallied behind a bill in Congress Tuesday that calls for a comprehensive new study of efforts to save Idaho’s endangered wild salmon.

The Oregonian published a story involving a judge’s decision that federal officials had not properly assessed the environmental impacts of approving a genetically modified alfalfa seed for planting this year.  The claims are that the plants will pollinate conventional varieties of alfalfa. 

Judge Rejects Federal OK of Modified Crop  

Note:  More generally, questions persist about “Roundup Ready” crops and whether this gene might spread into native communities of plants, even weeds. 

Here’s an ironic one - 

Otter halts IDFG deer kill on Jones’ elk ranch
3/9/2007

Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter on Thursday questioned the Idaho Department of Fish and Game practice of euthanizing wild game that has come into contact with domestic elk, halting an operation on an elk ranch near Blackfoot.

“After reviewing the situation on Thursday the governor directed that all options short of lethal control be considered carefully before any animals are killed,” Otter spokesman Mark Warbis said. “His preference is to explore every other option that preserves the wildlife.”

Perhaps many of you have heard of the WGFDs quick fire-off of the news release below last week.  The argument is that wolves are pushing/disrupting elk off of Wyoming’s large elk feedlots, brought about to entice elk away from cattle in an effort to prevent the spread of Brucellosis from elk to cattle.  We’ve seen Montana use Brucellosis to slaughter and haze buffalo, we’re seeing Wyoming use it to “manage” elk in high-density feed-camps and now we’re seeing it extended to justify inflated antagonism toward wolves.  

The Jackson-Hole News&Guide’s Cory Hatch wrote an article entitled State: Wolves disrupt elk feeding areas on March 7 which includes some biologists’ take on the matter.    

“wolf problems persist at wyoming’s feedgrounds”

Wyoming Game & Fish News

March 5, 2007

CHEYENNE—Wolves have been disrupting the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s feedground operations in northwest
Wyoming again this winter. In the past several weeks, Game and Fish personnel at feedgrounds have become increasingly frustrated with the wolf activity and their lack of ability to deal with the predators.

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This article appeared in The Idaho Statesman March 3. 

ALLIANCE GAVE FLAWED ANALYSIS OF SCRIPTURE
by Rabbi Dan Fink  (rabbi for the Ahavath Beth Israel congregation)
 
   What does the Bible say about how to manage our state’s wolf population?  A recent Statesman article presented the perspective of the Idaho Values Alliance.  The group’s position is based on several verses from the book of Leviticus, in which God proclaims:  “If you follow my decrees, I will remove savage beasts from the land.  But if you do not listen to me, I will send wild animals against you.”  According to the IVA, this passage provides a scriptural mandate to hunt and destroy wolf packs.
   There are, however, several flaws in their interpretation.[…] Read on…

There’s been a lot of talk about ethanol as an alternative to petrol consumption - especially with the President taking some licks from Hugo down South this week.   The Idaho State Journal has an interesting article on biodiesel today, another alternative which seems promising.  Don’t get me wrong - I’m a fervent advocate of conservation first and foremost…

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As of today, [western Great Lakes] gray wolves no longer protected by feds

“Lovvorn concedes that there is no longer the kind of anti-wolf sentiment that existed in the decades leading up to the animal’s placement on the endangered list.”

Perhaps some folks on this side of the country might take a hint?

Here we have the slides from an IDFG  powerpoint presentation given by Steve Nadeau - IDFG’s large carnivore manager.  The presentation lays out data regarding wolf numbers, distribution throughout the state, and some basic tidbits which may help to better understand how Idaho intends to manage wolves. The presentation illustrates the intention to split up the state into management ’Zones’ based on biological and ’sociological’ concerns and marks the advent of “No Tolerance” zones. 

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Hey, it’s Spring Break, and I’m setting here typing instead of outdoors. This is WRONG!  For the next week we will have a guest editor.

He will have to approve the post of anyone who has not posted before (the post goes into a moderation queue first). He might kick some people off if they are unruly

I want to thank BE for taking over.

Good news on the McNeil River bears?

Close Call For Alaska’s Famous Bears. State Considers, And Rejects, Allowing Hunters Access To Sanctuary’s People-Friendly Brown Bear. CBS News.

The local paper had a big feature on the global warming issue today. The headline is a bit misleading. The article is an overview. It begins with the global-warming organization, I CAN, which evolved from a Bible study.

Group fights global warming. By John O’ Connell. Idaho State University.

Editorial. Top predator, Wolf delisting in West is premature. The Salt Lake Tribune. March 10, 2007