Earlier I reported that Ken Salazar, Democratic Senator from Colorado, had put a hold on the nomination of Idahoan Jim Caswell to be the new national director of the Bureau of Land Management. Today reading Randy Stapilus’ Blog (Ridenbaugh Press), I learned the Oregon’s Democratic Senator Ron Wyden has a hold on Lyle Laverty, whom…
Video of the recent Boise wolf hearing on the WWP blog. Look who’s going to be running the show for wolves in Idaho. Note: “management flexibility” means kill wolves without restriction. That’s the endangered species act under George Bush and Dirk Kempthorne. Note that Jim Caswell, in one of the video segments, is the new…
This is part two of a three-part series on this multi-faceted and important issue. Part one, which explored the myths of Stewardship, Perpetuity, and Creation, can be found here. Part three, which will explore the myths of Popularity, Local Authority, and Process, will be posted soon. Myth of Legality Somewhat related to the myth of…
9th Circuit Filings – Constitutional Challenge to Wolf Delisting Rider ^Update 10/18/11 – Posted: Alliance for the Wild Rockies et al’s Emergency Motion for Injunction Pending Appeal, Motion for Summary Judgement Response Briefs (Appellees US Fish and Wildlife Service; Intervenors RMEF, NRA, & Montana/Idaho Farm Bureaus; Montana Amicus Brief) **Update 8/24/11 – Posted: Alliance for…
Salazar Strikes Again, Denying Meaningful Protection for Imperiled Tiny Bunny of the Sagebrush Sea The declining condition of the Sagebrush Sea has been highlighted on a couple of occasions over the past couple of weeks. In recent Washington state news we learned that jackrabbits in sagebrush habitats are diminishing. Pygmy rabbits were rejected ESA protections…
Politics still reigns supreme in the Interior Department A new report outlines how very little has changed under Obama and Salazar. Science is being ignored and managers manipulate it to support predetermined political outcomes. In my experience, I would say that the Interior Department under Obama and Salazar is as bad or worse than under…
Rare plant will receive protection across its entire range. WESTERN WATERSHEDS PROJECT NEWS RELEASE October 1, 2009 Contact: Todd Tucci, Advocates for the West (208) 342-7024 Jon Marvel, Western Watersheds Project (208) 788-2290 Katie Fite, Western Watersheds Project (208) 429-1679 SCIENCE FINALLY TRUMPS POLITICS IN PROTECTING RARE DESERT FLOWER Boise, Idaho – Conservation groups applauded…
Wolves in Northern Rockies and Great Lakes officially delisted May 4, 2009- Will delisting be better the second time around? Today for the second time in the Northern Rockies, wolves were delisted with all management decisions handed over to the states of Idaho and Montana, but not Wyoming where delisting will not take place under…
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University. He was a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and was also its President for several years. For a long time he produced Ralph Maughan’s Wolf Report. He was a founder of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. He and Jackie Johnson Maughan wrote three editions of “Hiking Idaho.” He also wrote “Beyond the Tetons” and “Backpacking Wyoming’s Teton and Washakie Wilderness.” He created and is the administrator of The Wildlife News.