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Archives. Conservation News Stories in Western Wolf Country, Aug- Sept. 2001 Some of the links will be dead, but others work for a surprisingly long time. Unless the commentary is in quotes, the commentary is my own. Ralph Maughan Sept. 30. 2001. 'Cow pie’ the culprit in range fire. Herald-Journal (Logan, Utah). Jason Bergreen. This is not just news from the weird. It shows how dry things are in northern Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. It also show how manipulative the debate is over logging versus thinning forests. When it's this dry, all forests will burn. Sept. 30, 2001. Support for Native Cutthroats Growing. By Chris Hunt - Idaho State Journal City Editor. Editor’s note: This marks the final installment in a nine-month series of reports examining the condition of the West’s native cutthroat trout. Sept. 28, 2001. There was quite a cool spell in the
Northern Rockies just before mid-September, and the wild fire season
seemed to be near an end. Since then, the days have been dry, hot, and
often windy, and old fires have continued, such as the giant Moose Fire
in Glacier NP. There is a new one in the Bob Marshall Wilderness,
a new fire in Jackson Hole, and even some smoldering fires reignited in
Yellowstone. There are 5 new forest fires in Idaho, and a new fire is
dropping ash on Bozeman, Montana (see below).. . . Ralph Maughan. Sept. 26, 2001. Nature hits a home run for salmon. By Steve Stuebner. High Country News. "Record salmon, steelhead runs buy time for endangered stocks." Sept. 26, 2001. Did the terrorist attacks inadvertently save the Endangered Species Act? High Country News. By Paul Larmer. Sept. 25, 2001. Hank Fischer of Defenders of Wildlife quits. Scott McMillion. Bozeman Chronicle. "Hank Fischer, the man who developed programs that pay ranchers when wolves or grizzly bears kill their livestock, is leaving his job of 24 years with Defenders of Wildlife." Sept. 23, 2001. Little fire, big bill: Fighting wildfire cost nearly twice property’s value. By Scott McMillion. Bozeman Daily Chronicle Staff Writer. The cost of fighting some fire compared to the value of the land is questioned in this article about fighting a fire last August just north of YNP. Sept. 23, 2001. Panel cold to proposal for grazing domestic bison on national forest land. AP. Rancher Dan Ingalls wants to convert from cattle to bison on his grazing allotment southeast of Jackson Hole. Note: this area is full of grizzly bears and is in the territory of the Gros Ventre wolf pack, which might be one reason Ingalls wants a brawnier kind of livestock. Sept. 22, 2001. Expert: Ban elk farming in state (Colorado). Captive herds faulted for disease's spread. By Theo Stein. Denver Post. Mad elk disease and mad deer disease are spreading in Colorado. While the origin of the disease is unknown, elk farms in various states and in Saskatchewan have been found to harbor this terrifying ailment. Montana voters in 2000 wisely put an end to elk farming there. Sept. 21, 2001. Insult
to our Lands. Letter to the Editor. Jackson Hole Guide. By
Richard Wright.
Sept. 20, 2001. Moose
fire in Glacier NP continues to burn. Great Falls Tribune. While
most of the Western wildfires are now controlled, the Moose Fire in and
near Glacier NP continues to burn. This article doesn't mention it, but
the fire has reportedly ignited some coal beds in the area. Sept. 19, 2001. Western Watersheds Project Wins again and eliminates yet another water diversion in Sawtooth Valley. Note: Lou Racine was former chair of the Idaho Fish and Game Commission. Sept. 18, 2001.
Discovery
of new Idaho wolf pack makes 2001 the second year toward delisting. By Jeff Toleffson. Billings Gazette. The USFWS decided
retrospectively that there were enough wolves in 2000 (30 breeding
pairs), and now that goal has probably been meet for 2002, which would
make 2003 the third year in the delisting series. However, each state
has to also have an acceptable wolf management plant as well, and that
will be hard to come by in Idaho and Wyoming. Sept. 14, 2001.
"Green extremist" site launched. Idaho U.S. Rep. Otter says
environmental extremist groups must be monitored. Spokesman-Review.
By Betsy Z. Russell. Congressman Butch Otter, who has filled the shoes
of retired Rep. Helen Chenoweth, and who has been repeatedly
fined for his own environmental violations, has taken it upon
himself to demonize all environmental groups, even the Nature
Conservancy, at a time Americans are showing unprecedented unity. Sept. 14, 2001. State, federal agencies warn Yellowstone Club. AP. The Yellowstone Club is a private village under construction just NW of Yellowstone Park. Those who can't prove they are worth millions will not be allowed to enter. Sept. 5, 2001. Idaho
Fish and Game Officer Retires after 29 years. Cites politicization of
Fish and Game Commission. Idaho Mountain Express. By Greg
Stahl. Conservation officer Lee Frost is right. Today's Idaho Fish and
Game Commission has the kind of balance you expect in a one party state
-- one-sided. Sept. 10, 2001. Scientists
eye uncharted territory in Yellowstone. AP. Sept. 10, 2001. Farm Aid Flows to the Big Farmers. By John Kelley. AP Sept. 9, 2001. Farmers rely on fed giveaway. Ag subsidies balloon despite phase-out law. By Rocky Barker. The Idaho Statesman Sept. 1, 2001. Large fire (the Moose Fire) hits Glacier National Park. By Michael Jamison. Missoulian. Map of fire area.
Sept. 8, 2001. Fugitives nabbed in Yellowstone Park. By Jeff Tollefson. Billings Gazette. Sept. 4, 2001. Conservation Groups may challenge continued livestock grazing in Grand Teton National Park. Casper Star Tribune. By Jason Marden. Folks can see how the Park was grazed down to nothing by looking at the photo. Now one of the grazers may have violated his lease terms. Sept. 3, 2001. Tipping the scale in wildlife habitats. Human development causes disruption that favors some species. By Glen Martin, San Francisco Chronicle Environment Writer. This is an important article. The notion that human activity only hurts some species, but helps others, is often forgotten in debates over wildlife. Unfortunately, we often dislike the "weedy" animals and plants that benefit from human disturbance. Sept. 1, 2001. Three die in helicopter crash fighting the Fridley Peak Fire. AP. August 31, 2001. Swift Foxes return from extinction in Montana. ENN. August 31, 2001. Missoulian. Guest Opinion. President making a farce out of 'local control' issue by Glora Flora. August 31, 2001. Yellowstone snowmobile discussions bog down By Jeff Tollefson. Billings Gazette Wyoming Bureau. August 30, 2001. Snowshoe
Fire Blows up in the Frank Church. By Anna Means. Challis
Messenger. Last year Little Pistol Creek burned and the Postal Creel
Ranch was burned down, now a fire is heading down Pistol Creek in the
direction of the rebuilding. August 30, 2001. Clearing
up water issues on Klamath Basin. Oregonian. By Michael
Milstein. I haven't posted any stories on this simmering controversy
that may erupt in violence because it is far outside the wolf
reintroduction area. However, the usual suspects are are work in the
area trying to foment trouble. For example, former congressman Helen
Chenoweth-Hage has been in the area rabble-rousing. In this article
Michael Milstein tries to answer some questions about this issue. August 30, 2001. Bush Administrtion makes a deal to protect 29 endangered species. New York Times. By Katharine Q. Steely. August. 30, 2001. Norton won’t alter plans for Missouri River Breaks Natioanl Monumment. By Jim Gransbery. Billings Gazette Staff. Montana Governor Judy Martz had appointed a stacked committee to review the monument, and they had recommended its size be reduced by 75%.August 29, 2001. Scientists count record salmon run at Bonneville Dam. Oregonian. Most people don't realize it, but it has been a great year for salmon and steelhead trout in much of the Pacific Northwest. The drought, however, will probably decimate the runs of these fish two or three years in future because the low water will kill the smolts as they migrate downstream, but for now, good fishing. Note: Bonneville Dam is the lowest -- the first -- dam fish meet on the Columbia River. Related. On the other hand, Snake River sockeye holding at the brink Captive breeding may be only hope to avert extinction By Rocky Barker The Idaho Statesman. August 31, 2001. August 29, 2001. Deaths of the Little Bighorns. A mysterious illness is weakening lambs in the Wind River Mountains, with many falling prey to predators. Researchers say pollution may be the cause. LA Times. By GARY POLAKOVIC. The Cheney/Bush energy plan, which will surround the mountains with natural gas wells, will only make the situation worse. August 28, 2001. Idaho cleared the air for Western governors. Governor Kempthorne asked farmers not to burn during Coeur d'Alene Western Governors Conference. Spokane Spokesman Review. This is hillarious. Why doesn't he do the same for the long suffering residents of Northern Idaho? August 28, 2001. Fridley
Fire is nation's number one priority wildfire. Little Joe Fire near Park
north boundary grows. By Becky Bohrer. AP.
Winds will fan fires on Tuesday. Little Joe Fire enters Park by
Scott McMillion. Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Aug.
29. High
winds fail to materialize. Bozeman Daily Chronicle. By Scott
McMillion. Photo
of Fridley Peak Fire from the west. Photo
from near Bozeman Pass on I-90.
August 28, 2001. Owyhee fire blooms to 6,500 acres. Crews ready as blaze flares near Silver City, Idaho. Idaho Statesman. Since the article was written, the blaze has grown to over 11,000 acres. Aug. 29. Firefighters help stave off evacuation of Silver City 11,000 acres burn 3 miles north of town By Patrick Orr. The Idaho StatesmanA August 28, 2001. Utahan Kathleen Clarke nominated by Bush as new BLM Director. Salt Lake Tribune. By Brent Israelsen. "I'm tickled," said Jim Peacock, director of the Utah Petroleum Association.. August 27, 2001. Bush Energy Plan helps unite feuding environmental groups. Washington Post. By Ben White. August 26, 2001. Bush Energy Plan Showcases Clout of Power Industry. Cheney-led task force consulted extensively with corporate executives, and its final report boosted their interests. Environmental groups had little voice. Special Report. LA Times. By July Pasternak August 22, 2001. Sec. Norton has a lot of "foxes guarding the hen house." Editorial. Idaho Mountain Express. August 21, 2001. 'Beast' Is Alive in Wyoming. It's been more than 600,000 years since the last huge eruption, but scientists say Yellowstone sits atop one of the world's largest active volcanoes. LA Times. By Usha Lee McFarling. August 21, 2001. Now is this time to call your member of Congress about public land recreational use fees. This decision will be made after Labor Day whether to make them permanent. By Penelope Purdy. Denver Post columnist. Related: August 21, 2001. In the great outdoors, resistance to rising fees Opposition builds as more federal lands ask visitors to pay. By Hal Clifford. Christian Science Monitor. My view is the fees, while often put to good use, were primarily instituted by Congress so as to alienate Americans from their public lands and build support for auctioning them off to the highest bidder. August 20, 2001. 130 forest fires burning in British Columbia. Vancouver Sun. Most of Canada is in a terrible drought (like the U.S. Pacific Northwest). Can anyone say "global warming? Or has B.C., like the U.S. West, not logged enough?
Aug. 19, 2001. Was Labor Duped by Dubious Job Numbers? 700,000 Jobs from Oil Drilling in Alaska? Says Who? By Connie Harvey. Tom Paine.com. Aug. 19, 2001. Norton Charts a Different Course for the Interior Department By Timothy Egan. New York Times. Wolves, grizzly bears out; energy development in. Aug. 18, 2001. Crews battle fierce flames across the West. CNN. Aug. 18, 2001. Three small fires start in Yellowstone. Aug. 16, 2001. Opinion. Burning Bush. Republican wildfire plan is the same old song and dance. George Ochenski. Missoula Independent. Aug. 16. Gold Miners Eager for Bush to Roll Back Clinton Rules By Douglas Jehl. New York Times. Aug. 16. Highest fire alert declared in West Next step is deploying the military By Ken Miller The Idaho Statesman Update Aug. 15. GTNP may extend the grazing season due to political pressure. Make sure you look at the photos. August 8, 2001. Cattle ousted from Grand Teton National Park due to dry conditions. AP. This is great news, but way late. To see what the pasture looks like in GTNP near Uhl Hill (near Spread Creek), see photos. These cows were also menacing the Teton Wolf Pack. July 22, 2001. A number of people have forwarded this article to me and asked that a link be forged. Grazing will be studied for grouse effects on the Beaverhead National Forest. The Montana Standard August 15, 2001. Montana Governor's task force recommends new Missouri Breaks National Monument be dramatically reduced By Sona Lee. Great Falls Tribune Staff Writer August 15, 2001. No new info on quieter snowmobiles By Jeff Tollefson Billings Gazette Wyoming Bureau. As expected the flap about the "green snowmachine" was probably just a ruse to get Bush to rescind the forthcoming ban on on the machines in Yellowstone. August 15, 2001. Fire crews scramble to control blazes Hot spots stretch from Idaho Panhandle to South Idaho. Idaho Statesman. After a surprisingly subdued forest fire seasonin Idaho, a number of fires have broken out. August. 15, 2001. Ranchers appeal grazing closure on Little Wood River. Idaho, U.S. Rep. Simpson spurs Forest Service to reconsider. Idaho Mountain Express. By Greg Stahl. After reading this, one might get the impression there is a bit of an incestuous relationship among Idaho elected public officials. August 11, 2001. Cattle grazing threatens Arizona pronghorn antelope. Arizona Daily Sun. From August 8, 2001. Idaho Land Board OKs rule changes to thwart Western Watersheds Project. By Bob Fick. AP. Aug. 14. In response to the Land Board's action, the Idaho Mountain Express opines: [The Idaho Land Board shows] Contempt for Idaho’s Constitution. August 14, 2001. Bush Backs 10-Year Plan to Fight Wildfires By Michael Janofsky. New York Times. The real test of this will be whether the plan is used to thin unnaturally thick forests and clear brush, or will it soon evolve into logging the big fire resistant trees and leaving the brush as often done with commercial logging in the past? Aug. 14. Governors, Bush accept wildfire plan; But debate over logging expected as details are set in coming months By Jim Hughes Denver Post Staff Writer August 13, 2001. Logging again controversial on Bitterroot National Forest. By Sherry Devlin. The timber industry just loves forest fires, no matter what they may say. After they fires they get to log many perfectly good trees (included unburned green trees) for next to nothing because they have been classified as "salvage." Logging after a fire is one of the worst things you can do because it disturbs the soil and makes it subject to erosion and the spread of weeds, and weeds are something the Bitterroot Valley has in abundance. It is the world capital of spotted knapweed. The weeds will remain in the forest long after the scars of the fires have healed. August 10, 2001. Federal Judge blocks land trade at for Grand Targhee ski resort The Associated Press. This is a great victory for the American tax payer and the vast majority of local residents who didn't want real estate development on the West Slope of the Tetons.
August 9, 2001. Hantavirus researchers concerned about Montana's deer mice populations. AP. Deer mice are the major host for this killer virus.
Aug. 7, 2001. Arthur fire will yield benefits, biologist says By Jeff Tollefson. Billings Gazette Wyoming Bureau. Link to Park Service web site on the Arthur Fire. Aug. 6, 2001. Scientists studying whirling disease in Yellowstone lake’s tributaries By Jeff Tollefson Billings Gazette Wyoming Bureau. Will Yellowstone Lake's unique chemistry and temperature contrasts yield useful information on this devastating parasite of trout?
Aug. 5, 2001. Firefighters gain ground on blaze [Arthur Fire] near Yellowstone's East Entrance. AP.
Return to recent wolf country conservation news stores.
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