Washington Post tells it like really is on wolf delisting . . . a farewell from Bush Administration

It’s hard for papers in the 3 states to say it so baldly as Jim Doherty does in Wolves are Back. Humans are Howling. Washington Post. If the judge sees it this way, delisting will be set aside.

Another related matter that needs to be covered so well nationally, because it is so similar, is this winter’s Yellowstone bison slaughter, the biggest in 115 years! It’s another tribute to a century of no progress in the thinking of Western politicians.

Clarks Fork, Blackfoot rivers made free-flowing again.

I haven’t posted on this before, although debating and planning for this has gone on for years. Yesterday, however, it came to fruition. The old Milltown Dam near Missoula was breached and two very important rivers were made free-flowing again.

There was some positive rhetoric from the politicians. “Sen. Max Baucus, Sen. Jon Tester and other officials told the crowd that the Milltown project represented Montana’s shift from an extraction to a restoration economy, creating jobs that protect the environment and use the state’s natural resources in sustainable ways rather than plundering them.” . . . Missoulian.

Into the breach – Clark Fork, Blackfoot rivers punch through Milltown Dam. By John Cramer. The Missoulian

Some folks may have seen the popular movie, A River Runs through It. It centered on the “Big Blackfoot” river, but was mostly shot on the Gallatin River as a standin because of the damage done to the Big Blackfoot over the years.

Young man with cell phone camera catches Pocatello area poachers

This is a local story (I live in Pocatello and know the field where this incident took place).

This was a brave young man (the way he confronted poachers in the act of poaching). It also shows the uses of technology in controlling poaching and similar outdoor violations.

A longer version of this story appeared in the Idaho State Journal, but it is not on-line. Associated Press story.

New era begins for wolves in Idaho

New era begins for wolves in Idaho. Under state management, life could change for the state’s 800 gray wolves but not right away.
By Roger Phillips. Idaho Statesman.

This is a look at the delisting with the primary emphasis on wolves in Idaho where about half of them live.

Bill Schneider: A Message to Wolf Haters to Fight Trigger Itch

The article explains how the 30 day window emerged before a lawsuit can be filed. There are some pretty scary possibilities over the next 30 days.

Don’t take advantage of legal loophole. A Message to Wolf Haters. By Bill Schneider. New West.