From Monday’s online edition of the Daily Inter Lake . . .
Gray wolf hunting will begin in the Northern Rockies as a federal judge considers an injunction request by environmental and animal welfare groups to stop the predators from being killed…
After a three-hour hearing Monday, U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy gave no indication how he might rule on the request. Molloy said he would decide “as quickly as I can.”
A couple of recent events turned the heat up another notch on the wolf hunt debate.
With exceptionally bad timing, a local wolf pack killed 120 sheep in one night on a ranch near Dillon earlier this month. Also, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is taking the highly unusual step of filing a “friend of the court” brief in favor of the Montana and Idaho wolf hunts as part of the hearing in front of Judge Molloy Monday.
Here are the related stories . . .
Wolves kill 120 sheep at ranch near Dillon
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joins legal fracas to support wolf hunting in Montana, Idaho
The Flathead Beacon has an excellent article on the issues surrounding oil leases on the North Fork. Dan Testa really did his homework on this one. Here’s a teaser . . .
During Interior Secretary Ken Salazar’s Aug. 11 visit to the North Fork of the Flathead River, he heard from members of various local conservation groups about ways to discourage the development of coalmines and gas drilling in British Columbia, north of Glacier National Park…
…local conservation groups seem to understand that Montana would have a firmer stance from which to discourage coal and gas development in B.C. if it didn’t also have vast swathes of land leased for development down here, much of which covers the Whitefish Range and borders the North Fork.
From today’s online edition of the Missoulian . . .
Gov. Brian Schweitzer said Tuesday he’ll be disappointed if a federal judge stops Montana’s first-ever wolf hunting season – and hinted the state may sue to keep the hunt on.
From today’s online edition of the Flathead Beacon . . .
A federal judge has agreed to host a last-minute hearing on a request from environmental and animal rights groups to stop upcoming wolf hunts in the Northern Rockies.
From today’s online edition of the Flathead Beacon . . .
The deaths of two grizzly bears in Glacier National Park last week has caused a stir in western Montana as bear biologists evaluate the park’s decision to remove a mother and two of her cubs.
Biologist Charles Jonkel of the Great Bear Foundation in Missoula disagreed with the killings and reported numerous phone calls from concerned residents.
From a recent email sent out by the NFLA Road Committee . . .
The NFLA road committee has arranged to have Laura Fay, a research scientist from Western Transportation Institute out of MSU, come to talk about Dust Control Options. She will speak on September 8th at 10:00 a.m. at Sondreson Hall.
Her talk will include major dust control options, definitions, materials frequently used, location of informational resources and provide information on how WTI can help.
This should be an excellent and informative presentation for anyone concerned with dust mitigation on the North Fork Road.
We’ve finally gotten more information on the local previews of the new Ken Burns documentary, “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.”
The screening in Whitefish is on August 29th, at 5 p.m. at the O’Shaughnessy Center. Cost is $5 in advance and $7 at the door. Tickets are available at all four Montana Coffee Trader locations.
There’s also a showing in Missoula on August 30th at 5 p.m. at the UC Theater on the University of Montana campus. There’s no charge at the Missoula venue.
See our earlier post for more information on the documentary.
As expected, a coalition of wolf advocates sued to block the Montana and Idaho wolf hunts Thursday. As posted on the Missoulian’s web site . . .
A coalition of wolf advocates filed a request to block wolf hunting seasons in Idaho and Montana on Thursday afternoon in Missoula’s federal district court.
“Because Idaho Fish and Game delayed its decision on setting the mortality level until the last minute, we’re filing for injunctive relief at the last moment,” said EarthJustice attorney Jenny Harbine. “It could be that Idaho would start (its wolf hunting season) before we’re able to get a remedy.”
The coalition is suing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in order to reverse the federal agency’s decision removing the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act in Montana and Idaho. Both states set up 2009 hunting seasons for wolves, with Idaho’s hunt beginning Sept. 1 in some regions. The earliest part of Montana’s season will start Sept. 15.
This evening, Glacier Park personnel killed the “Old Man Lake” grizzly. Despite resuscitation efforts, one of her cubs died from the effects of a tranquilizer dart. The Flathead Beacon and Missoulian have the story . . .
Grizzly Cub Transferred from Glacier Park
Human-conditioned grizzly bear killed by rangers in Glacier Park; cub dies from tranquilizer dart