2010. Year of the grouse?

Yes, the sage grouse is likely to get protection under the Endangered Species Act-

Wyoming waits anxiously for federal decision on bird. Year of the grouse? By Dustin Bleizeffer. Casper Star-Tribune energy reporter.

. . .  an amazing quote!

“Industry and conservation leaders alike seem to agree that the restrictions of such a listing would have a chilling effect on the agriculture and minerals industries, which are the foundation of Wyoming’s economy . . . .” ‘I would love to believe we will not see a listing. But I am not as optimistic as I’d like to be,’ said Walt Gasson, executive director of the Wyoming Wildlife Federation.” [emphasis added]

The conservation groups haven’t been co-opted or anything. Yeh, give them a contribution.  😦

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More on sage grouse today. Wyoming BLM issues sage grouse guidelines. By Mead Gruver. Associated Press Writer.

Cougar jumps snowmoblier on West Slope of the Tetons

Another cougar attacks and kills llamas-

And Idaho Fish and Game doesn’t seem to need a better count of cougars or locations like they do wolves (not that I really want them collaring cougars too).

Mountain lions on the prowl. Feline killed in Alta, man jumped by cat near Jackpine Loop. Published: Thursday, December 31, 2009 12:16 AM MST. By Rachael Horne. Teton Valley News Staff.

For those not familiar with the Teton Range. This is on the “Idaho side” of the Tetons, most which is, nevertheless, still in Wyoming.

Federal agencies may have to consider climate before they act

The Obama administration may issue an order that would expand the National Environmental Policy Act’s scope to prevent global warming. The move could open up new avenues to challenge projects.

I review grazing allotment renewal documents and rarely, if ever, have I seen climate change discussed.  When it is discussed, and only in response to comments by WWP, the agencies claim that issues related to global warming and livestock grazing are beyond the scope of the project. Unfortunately, grazing compounds the effects of global warming by creating warmer and drier landscapes which, in turn, impacts wildlife.

There is a very good case to be made that eliminating grazing from public lands would also reduce the effects of global warming by 1) reducing desertification and 2) increasing carbon sequestration in soils. As Brian Ertz has illustrated in his post from last year, public lands can be very effective carbon sinks if allowed rest from livestock grazing. This is an important idea that needs to be kept in mind when discussing public lands ranching.

Federal agencies may have to consider climate before they act
By Jim Tankersley – L.A. Times

Heavily impacted soils and vegetation in Nevada's desert. © Ken Cole

Sage Brush with ancient soil crusts Cave Valley, Nevada © Ken Cole

Latest, Dec. 31, official Wyoming wolf report

Wyoming Gray Wolf Recovery Status Report. USFWS-

I notice livestock predation by wolves in Wyoming in 2009 was really trivial. Of the dead sheep, which was up in ’09, “three packs (Big Horn, Black Butte, and Dog Creek) were responsible for all of the195 confirmed sheep depredations. The Big Horn Pack consisted of 3 adults male wolves and all 3 wolves were removed in control actions. The Black Butte Pack consisted of 2 adults and 6 pups. Both adult wolves and 4 pups were removed. Six adult wolves and 6 pups made up the Dog Creek Pack. Five adults were removed.”

Too bad about the Dog Creek Pack. They could have sent more wolves into Eastern Idaho. They were a border pack.

WYOMING WOLF WEEKLY- Dec 21 through Dec 31, 2009.

Wyoming-Oregon gas pipeline to cross Nevada and Utah-

The “Ruby pipeline” is to be bad news for pristine desert, scenic canyons, wildlife-

In typical single-minded engineering mentality, this pipeline will be built cross-country  with little regard for anything else.

Reno Gazette-Journal on the Ruby Pipeline. By Susan Voyles.

This pipeline is one reason why Western Watersheds giant sage-grouse lawsuit is so important.

Mt. Rainier’s melting glaciers bring down many rocks

Warming climate has resulted in a big melt of glaciers on the giant volcano’s unstable slopes-

Although this article focuses on the effects to Rainier National Park, melting could result in a deadly mudflow downriver.

Rainier’s rocks are filling riverbeds. The fallout from Mount Rainier’s shrinking glaciers is beginning to roll downhill, and nowhere is the impact more striking than on the volcano’s west side. By Sandi Doughton. Seattle Times science reporter