Field reports: New hiker permit quotas help spread ‘Wild’ influenced Pacific Crest Trail crowd
HIKING – Growing numbers of hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail, the Mexico-to-Canada route made increasingly popular by the movie “Wild,” have led officials to take steps to alleviate traffic.
The Pacific Crest Trail Association announced on Wednesday a new permitting system that will limit to 50 the number of long-distance hikers heading north each day from San Diego County.
An online application process will allow hikers to schedule start dates and view projected hiker density on any given day.
The PCTA’s Jack Haskel says the goal is not to limit the number of hikers, but to spread them out.
The trail starts near Campo, California, and runs 2,650 miles to the U.S.-Canada border.
Haskel says since the movie came out in December, website traffic is up 300 percent.
Elk herd gains; wolves decline
GAME – Wildlife officials have tallied a 24 percent increase in the size of an elk herd that migrates between Yellowstone National Park and Montana.
They say it’s too soon to know if the change marks a turnaround for a population long in decline.
The 2015 winter survey of the Northern Yellowstone Elk Herd counted 4,844 elk. That’s almost 1,000 more than the last count in 2013 and the highest number since 2010.
The increase may be linked to a decrease in wolf numbers.
Park biologist Doug Smith says a higher survival rate for newborn calves was a boost to the elk.
The herd peaked at almost 20,000 animals in 1994. Gray wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone in 1995.
Also taking a toll on the herd have been hunters, other predators and harsh winters.
Research has shown that the elk were overpopulated in the mid-90s and that the park’s ecosystems, including aspens, have benefited to a more natural balance since wolves were reintroduced.
However, sportsmen’s groups say a 75 percent decline in the area’s elk herd is overkill.
The park’s wolf population has dropped substantially since 2007. Park-wide, the number of wolves in Yellowstone declined from 171 in December 2007 to 82 in December 2012.
Most of the decrease has been in packs on the northern range, where it has been attributed primarily to the decline in the elk population there.
Disease and wolf-on-wolf territorial killing also are factors.
Outdoors programs on tap
• African Safari, program on 12-day wildlife-watching safari in Botswana, Tuesday, 7 p.m., Lutheran Church of the Master, 4800 N. Ramsey Rd. in Coeur d’Alene.
• Bird banding, program on what Spokane Audubon volunteers are learning about the birds of our area, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., at Riverview Community Building, 2117 E. N. Crescent Ave. in Spokane.
• Muzzleloading Arms & Historical Crafts Show, Feb. 14-15, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Kootenai County Fairgrounds, 4056 N. Government Way in Coeur d’Alene. Features firearms, clothing and essentials geared to the beaver trade era, 1800 to 1840.
• Fly Fishing School conducted by the Spokane Fly Fishers, Thursday evenings Feb. 19-April 2 at Inland Northwest Wildlife Council building, 6116 N. Market.
Sign up: spokaneflyfishers.com.
Info: Kurt Tempel, (509) 270-6016.
• Northwest Precision Steel Series Challenge long-distance shooting event starts Feb. 28, a four-event series with hunting and tactical divisions at the Rock Lake Rifle Range, 2356 Glorfield Rd., St. John, Washington.
Tactical competitors engage targets at distances of 175-1,250 yards in seven stations. Hunting and youth shooters do five stations at 150-600 yards.
Info: nwprecisioncustoms.com