NEWS BRIEFS

Two Wolves Shot in Northwest Montana; Reward Offered

From the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service:

On Nov. 6, 2010, two wild gray wolves were found dead in separate locations on the Flathead National Forest in northwestern Montana. One wolf was found dead along Coal Creek Road, while the body of the other dead wolf was recovered in the Miller Creek area. Both animals appeared to have died as a result of gunshot wounds.

Press Release

Montana Legacy Project Phase II Concludes, Transfers 122,000 Acres to Forest Service

The following is a press release the U.S. Forest Service and is part of NewWest.Net’s bulletin board, which offers press releases with a wide variety of views and news about the West.

The Lolo and Flathead National Forests are assuming management of approximately 112,000 acres of former Plum Creek Timber Company lands purchased by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and The Trust for Public Land (TPL) as Phase II of the Montana Legacy Project comes to a close today with the official transfer of ownership to the Forest Service. 

“It’s such an honor to witness the addition of over a hundred thousand acres of occupied lynx, grizzly bear, and bull trout habitat brought under the umbrella of public land management,” said Northern Regional Forester Leslie Weldon.  “There is significant wetland habitat and a great diversity of plant species on these lands.  Acquiring these parcels allows us to restore whole landscapes, assist wildlife in adapting to climate change by reducing habitat fragmentation and conserving water flows as these working forests are placed in permanent public ownership.”

New West Bulletin Board

Growth of Montana’s Wolf Population Slows in 2009

The following is a press release the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department and is part of NewWest.Net’s bulletin board, which offers press releases with a wide variety of views and news about the West.

At least 525 wolves inhabit Montana according to the 2009 annual wolf conservation and management report released today by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

FWP’s report, which is available online at fwp.mt.gov, shows Montana’s minimum wolf population increased about 4 percent in 2009, compared to an 18 percent increase in 2008.

The minimum Montana wolf population counts include 525 wolves, in 101 verified packs, and 37 breeding pairs.  Montana’s minimum pack count and number of breeding pairs increased slightly from 2008.

“The combination of a conservative harvest by hunters, agency control and other mortality sources did not curtail population growth,” said FWP Director Joe Maurier.

Press Release

City of Boise Acquires Hammer Flat, Conserving 701 Acres of Wildlife Habitat

Mayor David Bieter and the City Council today announced the purchase of Hammer Flat – a 701-acre wintering range for mule deer, elk and antelope in east Boise – using funds generated by the 2001 foothills serial levy. The Mayor and Council approved the $4.1 million expenditure at a special council meeting today at City Hall.

“Of all the incredible land acquisitions made through the Foothills serial levy, this is the most significant in terms of wildlife preservation,” Mayor David Bieter said. “By putting this land into public hands, we will protect it and the wildlife it supports for generations to come.”

Hammer Flat is a vast plateau located north of Highway 21 above the Black Cliffs near Lucky Peak Reservoir. The property adjoins the 35,000-acre Boise River Wildlife Management Area, which is managed by the Idaho Department of Fish & Game. The department will also manage the Hammer Flat property for wildlife habitat in a manner consistent with the Boise Wildlife Management Area plan. No trails are planned for the property.

The Hammer Flat property, a former homestead, is considered by Idaho Fish & Game and other wildlife supporters to be the most crucial wildlife protection area in the Boise Valley. The area’s relatively low elevation provides a needed winter habitat for as many as 2,000 mule deer at a time, many coming from as far away as the Stanley basin. Without Hammer Flat, the deer would be forced to seek shelter at higher elevations where deeper snow levels and lower temperatures make survival more difficult.

Press Release from Boise Mayor Dave Bieter

Release: Boise Will Celebrate With Olympic Silver Medalist Jeret “Speedy” Peterson on Saturday

Mayor David Bieter is inviting all Boiseans to a rally to welcome Olympic silver medalist Jeret “Speedy Peterson” back to his hometown and to celebrate his incredible accomplishment at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.  The rally will be held Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 9:30 a.m. at City Hall Plaza.

Just prior to the rally, all residents are invited to join Jeret in a police-escorted “Champion’s Run” from the Downtown YMCA to City Hall.  Families and children are encouraged to run with Jeret. All runners wishing to participate should arrive at the Downtown YMCA by 9 a.m. Saturday. The run, which will be similar to the 2008 Kristin Armstrong Bike Ride Celebration, is expected to deliver participants to City Hall shortly after 9:30 a.m. to kick off the rally.

SPECIAL NOTE:  In an effort to encourage healthy lifestyles, anyone who participates in the run from the YMCA to City Hall will receive one free family day pass to any Treasure Valley YMCA location.

The run will begin at 10th and State streets, run east on State Street, turn south on 9th Street, turn left onto Main Street and proceed east for two blocks before arriving at City Hall.

KTVB anchor Mark Johnson will emcee the event. Jeret Peterson will be available to sign autographs following the rally. 

Press Release

Report: Battling Forest Beetles May be Counter-Productive

The following is a press release the National Center for Conservation Science and Policy and is part of NewWest.Net’s bulletin board, which offers press releases with a wide variety of views and news about the West.

DENVER - Forest ecologists warned leaders today that plans to log beetle-killed trees in remote backcountry, instead of implementing fuel reduction efforts directly adjacent to communities, will not make people safe and will squander scarce tax dollars.

A new scientific report released today suggests that bark beetle outbreaks will not lead to greater fire risk, and that tree thinning and logging is not likely to alleviate future large-scale epidemics of bark beetle. The report’s findings apply to millions of acres of lodgepole pine and spruce-fir forests across North America. 

Press Release from Idaho Rep. Walt Minnick

Press Release “Minnick Makes Federal Government Pay Back Idahoans”

Washington, D.C.--U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick promised to fight for Idahoans when he took office, making it his top priority to hold federal government accountable. He fought to get Idahoans all they were owed from their government. He directed his staff to work hard for constituents and to get results.

Minnick keeps promises.

In 2009, Minnick’s offices put more than $2.5 million back into the pockets of individual Idahoans. That was money the federal government owed or was trying to take from businesses, seniors, veterans, and families. On top of that, Minnick’s offices ran lean enough to return $100,000 from his $1.5 million congressional budget to taxpayers. That budget covers the costs of staffing and running four offices in Idaho and one in Washington, DC.

“Fighting for constituents is the most important work that a Congressional office should do,” said Minnick. “I am proud that my staff has been able to cut through red tape to help Idahoans obtain money that was owed to them from our federal agencies.”

Minnick helped Bill Martin of Boise, owner of Metro Express Car Wash, get back money unjustly taken by the IRS. As a businessman, Martin is impressed with how efficiently Minnick runs his offices, calling $2.5 million a “great” return on investment.

Blog Winter Olympics 2010

Idaho Woman Can’t Watch Olympic Curling

Okay, people. I’m going to say what a lot of you want to say: curling is funny. And it’s even funnier when it’s in the Olympics.

Unfortunately for anyone sitting near me during a “match,” curling, like sumo wrestling, cracks me up. The attack that gets me in its grip is guaranteed to ruin any meaningful Olympic experience, unless you enjoy being near a gasping, howling woman with tears streaming down her face.

It might be mean to laugh at curling – at least at the U.S. team, but who gives a rip.

I just can’t take it, man.

Whoever let curling into the Olympics must have been seriously hammered at the time. It probably happened after that one IOC meeting held in a sleazy Latvian bar, you know, the time that awesome accordion polka player led the singing of “Who Stole the Kishka?” and everybody made drunken bets on the dumbest thing they could get into the Games.

Yellowstone Wolf Numbers Drop for Second Year

Wolf numbers in Yellowstone National Park declined for the second consecutive year. The decline was expected and considered natural.

The Yellowstone Wolf Project reports the 2009 population at 96-98 wolves, down 23 percent from the 124 wolves recorded in 2008. This is the fourth decline since wolf reintroduction began in 1995. A population high
of 174 wolves was recorded in 2003. In 2004 and 2007, 171 wolves were counted.