November 29, 2011 in Outdoors, City

Feds propose critical caribou habitat in Idaho, Washington

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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service photo

Selkirk Mountains woodland caribou are protected under the Endangered Species Act.
(Full-size photo)

ENDANGERED SPECIES — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today a proposal to designate 375,562 acres of critical habitat in North Idaho and northeastern Washington for southern Selkirk Mountains woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), which are protected under the Endangered Species Act.

The action was prompted by appeals starting in 2002 by environmental groups. The action could lead to rule changes for logging, fire control and human activity in some areas. Comments on the proposal will be accepted until Jan. 30.

The southern Selkirk Mountains caribou was listed as an endangered species in 1984. At last count, 46 caribou were surviving in the Selkirk Mountains of North Idaho, northeastern Washington and British Columbia.

The proposed critical habitat is located in Boundary and Bonner counties in Idaho, and Pend Oreille County in Washington. These lands are currently considered to be occupied by the species.

Read the rest of Rich Landers’ post and see a map in his Outdoors blog here.

Six comments on this story so far. Add yours!

• 

  ManleyPointer on November 29 at 11:19 a.m.

  The feds need to back off. This is an issue for the state of Idaho to deal with (after the state has determined that an issue even exists….). The feds’ determination that 375,562 acres of land in north Idaho and northeast Washington are “currently considered [presumably by some fed ‘expert’ in wildlife management, but we don’t really know for sure, given the feds’ use of the passive voice verb] to be occupied by the species” is astounding, given the realities on the ground in these areas. Are we REALLY going to cripple further an already decimated industry by closing these areas to timber harvest, so we don’t bother FORTY-SIX animals that are “currently considered” by some unidentified bureaucrat to occupy this same space? That’s almost 8,200 acres per animal!!

  Maybe we need to start an “Occupy Boundary County” movement.

• 

  woamike on November 29 at 12:07 p.m.

  “The action was prompted by appeals starting in 2002 by environmental groups. The action could lead to rule changes for logging, fire control and human activity in some areas.”

  MOST “environmental” groups couldn’t care less about the particular species they use as a pretex to curtail HUMAN activity - activities that lead to human prosperity and enjoyment. They are flat-earthers that need to be stopped.

  What good is pristine beyond pristine land that can only be used/enjoyed by the animals that live there?? The Earth is for all of us (humans) to be used and enjoyed, not just the green fringe who seem to only enjoy nature when no one else can even touch it, let alone actually use or benefit by it.

  Nature’s bounty is for us, to be used with care. “They” really don’t want “us” to be able to enjoy it whatsoever. They would be most happy if it was illegal to even set foot in a forest.

• 

  agenda21 on November 29 at 12:41 p.m.

  …Agenda 21 continued. We all know this is about corralling the cattle into “smart growth zones” by our ever-so arrogant masters as outlined at the UN’s Earth Summit in 1992, furthermore, we all know the Endangered Species Act is but an ounce of truth used to sell a pound of lies. For those who are not familiar with the nature of my post, please educate yourselves, or be a but a unknowing brick in the soon-to-fall wall of fascism. “None is more hopelessly enslaved than he who falsely believes he is free”- Gothe.

• 

  MrBloggy on November 29 at 3:14 p.m.

  1. I’ve seen the mountains of raw logs without overseas markets piled high on the docks at Longview/Kelso and Neah Bay this summer.
  2. I saw Woodland Caribou on the Al-Can in the Northern Rockies in BC last year. They are a magnificent highly specialized survivor of the Ice Age.
  3. The tiny Selkirk herd is the last in the US. 2 of 7 caribou sub-specie are extinct. This would be the third.
  4. if the awesome responsibility of living in a region w end of days level demands for wildlife conservation is too much for some, they might consider more urban environs more to their liking. Leave the grownup work for grownups.
  5. just because a snowmobile is able to high mark a wild mountain slope or blast thru forests to harass and stress animals doesn’t mean it should. Play w your mechanical penises elsewhere leave the wild for the wild.
  6. eat some lichen, that diet of bile and sour grapes is bad for yours and the Caribou’s health.

• 

  oneanddone on November 29 at 3:54 p.m.

  Unfortunately 2/3rds of Idaho isn’t Idaho, the Feds claim it. And no way they’d ever consider relinquishing that control. It all seems so anachronistic but it’s true.

• 

  metaline on November 29 at 10:11 p.m.

  Mr Bloggy, your remark suggesting those of us born and raised here and seeing a way of life dissapear move to an urban area sounds very elitest. It’s our way of life we want to protect. Moving to an urban area isn’t even an option.