May be violating federal law Today Governor Brian Schweitzer has sent a letter to the Department of Interior stating that Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks will no longer prosecute killing of wolves by landowners defending livestock in northwest Montana, they will kill entire packs upon any livestock depredation, and they will kill entire packs of…
Idaho Fish and Game regional supervisor’s comments on this blog proven wrong by events- For about a year, the SE Idaho regional supervisor of Idaho Fish and Game Department, Mark Gamblin, frequently commented on this blog. He was always polite even though some folks were not in their replies. Of course, he laid out the…
An Event in Missoula, Montana on October 25, 2010 It never fails. Every time I find myself driving across the immense open space and undulating landscape of the front range in Montana, I puzzle myself over the absence of bison. And each time I hear about the threat posed to livestock by wolves, I wonder…
An Event in Missoula, Montana on October 25, 2010 It never fails. Every time I find myself driving across the immense open space and undulating landscape of the front range in Montana, I puzzle myself over the absence of bison. And each time I hear about the threat posed to livestock by wolves, I wonder…
Is compromising with the lawless in the best interest of wolves, wildlife, or the ESA? By Ken Cole, Ralph Maughan, and Brian Ertz. Ever since wolves were relisted as an Endangered Species by Judge Molloy of Montana there has been a persistent drone of editorial opinion, political grandstanding, and accusations made about and against wolf/Endangered…
The 2006 Memorandum of Agreement has EXPIRED. The State of Idaho and Wildlife Services have been operating outside of the law since relisting has occurred. It appears that the State of Idaho has no management authority over wolves now that they have been re-listed under the ESA. This is evidenced by the Memorandum of Agreement…
Possible hitch is discovery that eastern timber wolf is a different species than Great Lakes wolves- It would certainly be good politics if the wolf could be delisted here because the state wolf management plans and public opinion is so much more favorable than in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Good work and good folks should…
My personal opinion is that moderate groups could sit down and work out a new wolf delisting plan. Of course, this would require the state governments to change their wolf management plans if they want to participate in wolf management. Unfortunately, state politicians are probably not among moderates, especially with an election coming up. Questions…
Ken Cole is a 5th generation Idahoan, an avid fly fisherman, wildlife enthusiast, and photographer. He is the interim Idaho Director for Western Watersheds Project.
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