Mark Rey, Public Lands Enemy No. 1?

Bill Schneider asks if Mark Rey, Undersecretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources & Environment (he rules over the Forest Service, and the chief forester has no choice but to be his lackey) is the member of government hardest on public lands now that Richard Pombo, ex-chair of the House Resources Committee, was put out to pasture by his constituents. Pombo is now a lobbyist.
Mark Rey does Bush’s dirty work on our National Forests. [link fixed] By Bill Schneider. New West.

Related, March 1. An Open Letter to all Americans who wish to Contribute to keeping America’s Public Lands Administered by the Forest Service … Wild and Undeveloped.

Wolf advocates dominate first delisting hearing

The first public hearing on the delisting of the wolves in the Northern Rockies was held Feb . 27 in Cheyenne, and it was dominated by people who oppose delisting. This was the only Wyoming hearing planned, but a second hearing at Cody was recently announced under pressure from Wyoming’s lone US Representative Barbara Cubin, well known for anti-conservation views and ties to the oil industry. The date, place and time of the Cody hearing are so far being kept secret, leading to speculation that it will be a stacked hearing, with the details kept secret for as long a possible to make sure only anti-wolf voice is heard.

Story on the Cheyenne hearing. Billings Gazette. AP

Here is the story in the Casper Star Tribune. Wolf supporters show up in force. By Kathleen Miller.

Addition, March 1. Although I can’t find a media story, wolf supporters also had the large majority last night at the delisting hearing in Salt Lake City, Utah

Important note. Comments on delisting have just been extended to May 9.

Yet another removal order issued for a rare Mexican wolf

Story in the Las Cruces Sun-News. AP

Mountain lions in Virginia?

The cougar has not been confirmed in Virginia since 1882, but there are increasing signs they have returned to the state. Motion-sensitive infrared cameras have been deployed near  Appalachian Trail to try to determine whether cougars are back.

Motion-sensitive cameras could prove presence of mountain lions. AP

Coyotes at Chicago’s O’Hare cause delays

This story is from USA Today. It’s a bit humorous in a way, despite the obvious danger. This most persecuted canid has truly conquered North America.

Coyotes at Chicago’s O’Hare cause delays.  By Judy Keen.

One person quoted in the article says the coyotes are venturing closer and closer to cities. That’s wrong. They live in the cities and have for years now.

Boise, Idaho mayor says he opposes gold mine near Sawtooth Mountains

Yet another damn Canadian gold-mining company is bent on destroying America’s public land with a proposed pit in some of the most scenic mountains of Idaho, and the mayor of Boise is not going to sit idly by.

Boise Mayor Dave Bieter said Monday he opposes a controversial gold mining operation proposed near Atlanta [Idaho], and will ask the City Council for a formal declaration of opposition next week.Bieter and others are worried about potential contamination of the Boise River.

Read the full story in the Idaho Statesman. Bieter says he opposes gold mine. Boise mayor will ask council to declare its opposition, but city has no power to halt proposed Atlanta project. By Kathleen Kreller. Idaho Statesman

Update: I made a map from Google Earth showing the area of the planned pits and associated disturbances, perched above the Middle Fork of the River, the town of Atlanta, and adjacent to the splendid Sawtooth Wilderness.

Survey: Famous Jackson Hole elk herd population stable

While Wyoming’s politicians are either predicting the imminent demise of elk in northwest corner of the state or saying they have already been nearly wiped out, the ugly truth of fact again flies in their face.

Survey: Jackson elk herd population stable. Jackson Hole News and Guide.

New story on the count. Feb. 28. Shocker: Wolves Not Slaughtering Elk. By Jim Stanford. New West.

Location map of the Greater Yellowstone wolf packs-

With all of the confusion, unintentional and deliberate, about wolves in Yellowstone Park versus those nearby, but outside, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has published a very good current map.

The map also shows the area the Service plans to protect wolves in should Wyoming not receive wolf management authority (the likely case).

Map of wolf packs in the Greater Yellowstone (pdf)

Unfortunately, wolf pack 72 (Wood River) outside the protected area is one of the most important packs because it is on the chronic wasting disease interface between the Greater Yellowstone and rest of Wyoming (largely infected).  This wolf pack is probably the only entity in Wyoming doing anything constructive to prevent the spread of this dread cervid disease. Although it is not proven, there is the possibility that wolves can spot these infected deer and elk and bring them down before they infect a lot of others.

The protected area should, in my opinion, include all of Western Wyoming down to the Utah and Colorado borders. Please state that in your letters to the Service on the delisting plan if you agree.