Panel recommends spilling, barging of salmon

Mixed strategy recommended by independent panel for 2010

Chinook Salmon © Ken Cole

NOAA Fisheries wanted to barge all of the salmon from the Snake River around the dams and not spill any water over them because of the low water year that is predicted to be 54% of the normal flow. An independent panel said no and suggested that there be spill and barging due to a host of problems as a result of barging.

Some suggest that NOAA Fisheries wanted to avoid spilling so that more power could be generated by the dams.

Meanwhile the chinook salmon are returning in high numbers over Bonneville Dam with 7762 on the 19th and a cumulative total of 47721 spring chinook this year. You can see the numbers at the Fish Passage Center website.

Panel recommends spilling, barging of salmon
BY KEVIN MCCULLEN, HERALD STAFF WRITER

Severe pneumonia outbreak kills bighorn sheep

Lamb survival to be closely monitored for several years

Another overview story about the bighorn sheep die-offs around the west. Estimates of the death toll have reached 1000 bighorns.

Severe pneumonia outbreak kills bighorn sheep.
American Veterinary Medical Association

Could Idaho’s wolves be a tourist attraction?

Can wolf watching make money outside of Yellowstone?

People have been paying for wolf outings in Yellowstone for years now and it is pretty big business there. Can it work in Idaho too? I think it depends on many variables.

Could Idaho’s wolves be a tourist attraction? Some see potential for ‘hunting’ the predators with cameras, binoculars
BY JOE JASZEWSKI – Idaho Statesman

Have you seen any interesting wildife news? April 20-May 1

Note that this replaces the 6th edition. That edition can be found slowly moving down into the depths of the blog.

Red necked grebes, Warm Lake, Idaho © Ken Cole

Please don’t post entire articles here, just the link, title and your comments about the article. Most of these violate copyright law. They also take up too much space.

Study: Elk more likely to flee from humans than wolves

New study shows elk move into Yellowstone Park or unaccessible private lands.

Elk in Yellowstone © Ken Cole

We’ve all witnessed, or heard the stories about, how elk move to areas with less access or are closed to hunting, well this study basically demonstrates this. They do it more so in reaction to hunters than wolves.

Study: Elk more likely to flee from humans than wolves
BY MATT VOLZ • ASSOCIATED PRESS

If you have a subscription to the Journal of Wildlife Management you can read the study here.