Category Archives: News

Judge Molloy hears various sides on wolf settlement, hunts

Environmental Issues, News, , ,

Today’s Missoulian made a valiant effort to summarize yesterday’s hearing before Judge Molloy regarding the recently proposed deal to return wolf management to the states of Montana and Idaho, as well as other related matters. It’s a bit of a mess. Settle down with your favorite beverage before diving into this one . . .

Wolves faced two kinds of hunts during a hearing before U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy on Thursday.

A proposed settlement between wolf advocates and the federal government could open up public wolf hunting in Montana and Idaho, if Molloy supports it.

But he’s also considering an older case that considers how federal and state authorities could kill wolves while they’re still protected under the Endangered Species Act.

Complicating matters, the settlement has fractured both sides of the wolf delisting case, resulting in a courtroom Thursday with almost two dozen lawyers representing different factions.

Continue reading . . .

Bears on the move in Glacier National Park

Environmental Issues, News, , ,

It’s that time again. The bears are starting to get up and moving. The folks in Glacier National Park are seeing fresh tracks . . .

Recent observations of bear tracks in the snow indicate bears are emerging from hibernation and venturing out looking for food in and around Glacier National Park. Park Superintendent Chas Cartwright remarked, “Bear tracks in the snow are a good reminder that Glacier National Park is bear country and park visitors need to be alert for bear activity and to be familiar with and comply with safety regulations.”

Continue reading . . .

Wolf deal faces first test in federal court

Environmental Issues, News, ,

The recently announced deal to return wolf management to the states of Montana and Idaho faced its first court test today . . .

A proposal to settle years of litigation and allow public hunting of wolves in parts of the Northern Rockies faces its first legal test on Thursday, as it goes before a federal judge who has twice rebuffed attempts to lift protections for the predators.

The hearing before U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy in Missoula follows a settlement agreement last week between the Obama administration and 10 conservation groups.

Continue reading . . .

‘Wolverine Way’ a humorous, informative book

Environmental Issues, News,

While we’re on the subject of Wolverines, here’s a nice review of local author Doug Chadwick’s recent (May, 2010) book, The Wolverine Way . . .

“Wolverines belong to the carnivore family Mustelidae, more commonly called the weasel family after its most familiar members. From a public relations standpoint, this is a bit unfortunate, considering how corporate shills, spammers, faithless lovers and hedge fund managers keep giving weasels a bad name.”

That quotation is from “The Wolverine Way” by Doug Chadwick, a surprisingly funny yet keenly informative book about Glacier National Park’s mysterious wolverine population.

“I’m a biologist. It’s been really hard for me to get it through my thick head that people aren’t as interested in all those geeky facts,” Chadwick said from his rural Whitefish home last week. “Wolverines are fun and exciting. If I don’t get that across, I’m not conveying the real information about the animal. I’m a superfan.”

Continue reading . . .

In Glacier, volunteers help track secretive wolverines

Environmental Issues, News, , , ,

Here’s another article on the wolverine study in Glacier National Park. This one, from the Hungry Horse News, is based on an interview with Doug Chadwick — reasonable enough, since he has published a book on wolverines . . .

A creature long-maligned is finally getting some positive attention. The wolverine, one of Glacier National Park’s most rugged animals, is the subject of an ongoing study by biologists to learn more about the mysterious animal.

“We’re trying to get out there an learn everything we can,” said volunteer and local author Doug Chadwick. “The single most concentrated, vigorous population we know of in the Lower 48 is in Glacier National Park and we’re only talking about 40 to 45 animals.”

Continue reading . . .

Missoula audience scrutinizes U.S. Forest Service’s proposed planning rule

Environmental Issues, News,

This article from today’s Missoulian is well worth reading if you have any interest in the proposed changes to the USFS planning rule. The write-up includes information on how to access the planning rule website and leave comments . . .

It’s a little like changing the shape of the strike zone in baseball, or the allowable deductions on your income tax form. A proposed planning rule for all U.S. Forest Service activity is both deeply wonky and game-changing.

The draft rule spreads fine print from page 8,480 to page 8,528 in the Federal Register. In there is something that may affect every trail walker, tree cutter, mushroom picker, snowmobile rider, hunter, angler, small-plane pilot, outfitter, gold miner, folf player and who-knows-what other national forest user.

Continue reading . . .

Settlement reached on wolf recovery in western states – more info

Environmental Issues, News, , ,

From the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, here’s some more information on the proposed gray wolf recovery settlement announced last Friday . . .

Wolf management in the Northern Rockies took a step forward Friday, March 18, when a coalition of 10 conservation groups — including GYC — announced a legal settlement with the U.S. Department of the Interior. The agreement was filed in a federal district court in Missoula, where the court will review it and decide whether to support [it] . . .

If the court OKs the settlement, wolf management will return to the states of Montana and Idaho. Meanwhile, Endangered Species Act protections will be retained in the states where wolves remain threatened: Wyoming, Oregon, Washington and Utah . . .

Continue reading . . .

Further reading:
GYC press release
Press release from the U.S. Department of the Interior

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks releases spring bear report

Environmental Issues, News, , , ,

It’s that time of year again. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks released their spring bear report to various media outlets Friday, encouraging people to get ready for hungry bears emerging from hibernation . . .

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks bear managers meet every year in mid-March to prepare for the state’s bears to emerge from hibernation. About the same time, male grizzly bears are already stirring and that is why April 1st is the target date FWP bear managers recommend for bringing in winter bird feeders and seed, cleaning yards and collecting and disposing of bear attractants that have accumulated over winter.

NORTHWESTERN MONTANA
Tim Manley, FWP Region 1 grizzly bear specialist, said it is especially important for residents to clean up around their homes early in April. In recent years, deep mountain snowpack and heavy spring snowfall have pushed bears into the valley bottoms earlier in the season and for longer than usual.

“On the east side of the Flathead Valley during 2010, we had 18 grizzly bears we knew spent much of April and the first half of May in the valley . . .”

Continue reading . . .

Deal reached to lift wolf protections in Montana and Idaho

Environmental Issues, News, , ,

From an AP article posted to today’s Flathead Beacon . . .

Facing mounting pressure from Congress, wildlife advocates and the U.S. Department of Interior on Friday reached an agreement to lift gray wolf protections in Montana and Idaho and allow hunting of the predators to resume.

The settlement agreement — opposed by some environmentalists — is intended to resolve years of litigation that have shielded wolves in the Northern Rockies from hunting, even as the predator’s population has sharply expanded.

Continue reading . . .

Also see Earthjustice withdraws from wolf lawsuit , cites rift among groups in the Missoulian.