Big Wild Bi-Weekly 3.19.09

Spring is springing here in the Clearwater. Slumbering mammals of all sorts are slowly shaking off their winter lethargy. Among the greatest of the hibernators is the Great Bear or Grizzly. Please join us Thursday, March 26, at 7 p.m. in Room 40 of the Teaching and Learning Center in the Idaho Commons at the University of Idaho as nationally recognized grizzly cardiology expert, Dr. Lynne Nelson, and David Knibb, author of "Grizzly Wars: The Public Fight Over the Great Bear" present "Northern Rockies Grizzlies: Biology, Ecology, and Policy."

Dr. Nelson, also a former FOC board member and president, will describe the WSU Bear Research, Education, and Conservation Center, where she and her colleagues study all aspects of bears from physiology to nutritional ecology to resource sharing among bears and humans. Mr. Knibb will offer an overview of reintroduction and focus on the proposed reintroduction in the Selway-Bitterroot ecosystem, the recent Yellowstone delisting decision, and the likely future of grizzly bear recovery in the Northern Rockies.

Another group of slumbering mammals, the US Congress, needs your help to wake them up!  Though an increasing number of Reps have awakened to the reality that NREPA will solve many of the public land problems in the Northern Rockies, we have more work to do. With the 180 degree change in the White House and Congress this session, NREPA (HR 980) has legs that are growing and the bill still enjoys strong support from the leadership in the House Natural Resources Committee.

We are targeting Idaho Congressman Minnick to show an outpouring of support for NREPA. Please read the alert and contact Congressman Minnick. Phone calls are best.

Some exciting wilderness policy research has been happening right here in our own backyard! University of Idaho Masters of Natural Resources candidate, Brett Haverstick, will be defending his research, March 31, 8:00 a.m. in College of Natural Resources Room 205F. His research, "Wilderness in the Northern Rockies: An Analysis of the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act," will objectively analyze the bill and shed insight on factors affecting its success.

Brett will also present his research to the public on April 7, 7:00 p.m. at the UI Law School classroom 105. Listen to upcoming Wild Clearwater Country radio shows, Wednesdays at 4:00 p.m., on Radio Free Moscow (locally at 92.5 FM and streaming at www.krfp.org) for more details.

NREPA Analysis Presentation

In conservation news, please note that the comment period for Designating Motor Vehicle routes in the Nez Perce National Forest has been extended to April 20. Also, this past Tuesday the Idaho House Conservation and Resources committee voted unanimously to defeat a bill that would have paved the way for Moscow to sell its water rights to out-of-state developers with no  special interstate agreements. Reps Ringo and Trail both articulated lack of community support for the idea. Lastly, and unfortunately, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar approved the last minute Bush administration move to delist wolves in the Northern Rockies. A coalition of groups including FOC will be challenging the decision.

Read More:

Water-sale bill dies in state committee

Northern Rockies wolves delisted