Lots of (ahem) howling about wolves in this year’s session of the Montana legislature . . .
As the Montana Legislature moves into the second half of the session the gray wolf is proving to be one creature with few friends in the Capitol.
Lawmakers are advancing a slate of bills that call for decreasing protections for wolves, while Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer encouraged killing the animals last month in defiance of the federal Endangered Species Act.
From this week’s Hungry Horse News . . .
Hunters just might be able to use a spear next season if a law that makes them legal holds up. The Senate passed a bill by a 27-21 vote in January that would make a spear a legal weapon.
Senate Bill 112, sponsored by Sanders County Republican Greg Hinkle, is now being considered by the House. It’s just one of the many fish and game laws that are under consideration by the Legislature this year.
Gov. Brian Schweitzer has openly made fun of the bill and has promised he’ll veto it.
But spear chucking isn’t the only thing in lawmakers sights. They’d also like to nullify the Endangered Species Act. . .
From today’s Missoulian . . .
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., has inserted language into the Senate’s Continuing Resolution – the bill that funds the entire national budget – declaring the gray wolf a recovered species in Montana and Idaho.
The $1.077 trillion, seven-month spending bill is expected to reach a full Senate vote on Tuesday, and then return to the House of Representatives.
According to a note from Dave Hadden of Headwaters Montana, the Third Annual Wild Places Photo Exhibition needs cookies . . .
We need cookies and other treats to sell at the “Wild Places” photo exhibition on March 11 in Whitefish as part of our fundraising effort to continue the Work! Please call Meg Wolfe if you can bake a plate of cookies or other treats.
Meg’s contact: lullwolfe@msn.com or 863-9501.
Thanks for your help in making Wild Places a success. See you there!
A bit of a kerfuffle over a policy change at the U.S. Department of the Interior . . .
Republican governors and members of Congress vowed Tuesday to fight an Obama administration plan to make millions of acres of undeveloped land in the West eligible for federal wilderness protection.
This well-written, well-researched article by Rob Chaney of the Missoulian is recommended reading for anyone interested in the challenges still to come in protecting the Trans-boundary Flathead . . .
Now that the trans-boundary conference calls and Washington, D.C., hand-shaking sessions are over, a lot remains to finish in protecting the Flathead River between British Columbia and Montana.
Gov. Brian Schweitzer’s Valentine’s Day announcement that two conservation groups were providing $9.4 million to buy out mining claims on the Canadian side of the Flathead didn’t include all the details of the deal. One significant omission was that while the U.S.-based Nature Conservancy is raising its half of the money through private donations, the Nature Conservancy of Canada is dipping into a $225 million Canadian government fund for its contribution.
A very informative article posted late last night to the Missoulian’s web site . . .
While about 80 percent of existing energy exploration leases in the North Fork Flathead have been retired by the world’s leading oil, gas and mining companies, a handful of parcels remain in contention by smaller firms.
Those holdings include nearly 138,000 acres in Flathead County that extend into the Haskill Basin drainage, the primary source of Whitefish’s drinking water supply, as well as along the western edge of Glacier National Park in the Flathead National Forest and underneath Big Mountain.
As we mentioned earlier, a group of Montana photographers is getting together to benefit Headwaters Montana, a non-profit organization working to protect the Flathead and Elk Valley watersheds, the Glacier and Waterton Parks and the Crown of the Continent ecosystem.
According to Dave Hadden of Headwaters Montana,
Thirteen of the region’s top photographers will display amazing wildlife, mountain scenery, and people in Nature. The artists’ work will be projected on the Big Screen, and 13 of their photos will be raffled off during the evening with great chances to win the photo of your choice. Reception with appetizers and beer and wine for sale. This event supports Headwaters Montana’s work to protect the water, wildlife and outdoor heritage in the Crown of the Continent.
Not surprisingly, the Canadian press has also been covering the commitment by The Nature Conservancy and Nature Conservancy Canada to provide funds to retire oil and gas leases in the Canadian Flathead. The Globe and Mail posted an excellent article, including links to related stories and even a photo gallery . . .
Two environmental groups are putting up $9.4-million to help the governments of British Columbia and Montana follow through on an agreement to save the pristine Flathead River Valley in southeastern British Columbia.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada and the U.S. Nature Conservancy are contributing the money to cover costs related to a 2010 agreement between the province and the state. The Flathead is known as the Serengeti of the North for its abundant natural areas, which are home to 16 species of carnivore.
Monday, Gov. Schweitzer announced in Kalispell the commitment by The Nature Conservancy and Nature Conservancy Canada to provide funds to retire oil and gas leases in the Canadian Flathead. Tuesday, in Washington D.C., the whole package was wrapped up and a ribbon tied around it when Canadian Ambassador Gary Doer announced that the Canadian government plans legislation to permanently protect the area.
The Missoulian posted excellent coverage . . .
The deal to protect the North Fork of the Flathead from mining and energy exploration got final approval on Tuesday at a gathering in Washington, D.C., with Montana Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester and Canadian Ambassador Gary Doer.
In addition to confirming that The Nature Conservancy and Nature Conservancy of Canada will contribute $9.4 million to reimburse mining company expenses, the gathering also announced plans for Canadian legislation to permanently protect the area.