Big Wild Bi-Weekly 7.3.09

Dear Friends,

We hope you've been enjoying your summer and getting out into some wild country. We have several upcoming July events as well as a plethora of news for you in this Big Wild Bi-Weekly.

July 25, in Winchester, Idaho at the Wolf Education Research Center. There will be a naming ceremony for the newly arrived Owhyee wolf pack as well as tours, informational booths, and food. For more information contact WERC at 888-422-1110, extension 3 or visit them on the web at http://www.wolfcenter.org/news/index.html

July 31, 6:30 p.m. at East City Park in Moscow. Join Friends of the Clearwater for a summer barbecue potluck. Bring a dish to pass and your favorite beverage. We will be catching up with friends and playing volleyball and basketball and enjoying the summer heat!

August 8-9, on the North Fork Clearwater (Washington Creek campground) join us for our 2009 Bimononitoring workshop with Dr. Fred Rabe. We will be doing stream surveys, identifying critters large and small, and hiking and swimming in the beautiful North Fork. The water sure feels good this time of year! Reserve your place today. There are only 6 spots left! Contact FOC at 208-882-9755 or foc@friendsoftheclearwater.org. This will be an overnight trip.

Bighorn sheep news: We've been seeing quite a bit of bighorn news this summer.Though not common in the Wild Clearwater Country, populations persist in the Nez Perce National Forest along the Salmon River breaks. Several small populations may also persist along the ID/MT border in Kelly Creek Roadless Area and in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area. We are providing the links below to help you better understand bighorn and the threat posed by domesticated sheep. Look for a feature article on bighorn in our upcoming Clearwater Defender.

Background into biology: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/science/biologists-home-i...

http://www.newwest.net/city/article/wild_bighorns_threatened_by_domestic...

http://www.idahostatesman.com/localnews/story/797568.html

Beetle News: Congress recently held a hearing concerning mountain bark beetles, climate change, and the West. Friends of the Clearwater submitted testimony to the committee exploring this issue. Contact us for our comments at foc@friendsoftheclearwater.org. Read George Wuerthner's take on the issue below.

http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/beetle_hysteria_again/C41/L41/

In wolf news, the Great Lakes population of Canis lupis has returned to the protective cover of the Endangered Species Act. Read more at http://www.enn.com/press_releases/3029

For the wild,

Will Boyd, Education & Outreach Director

Friends of the Clearwater