In brief: Wild Wilderness films in Coeur d’Alene

PUBLIC LANDS – “Wild for Wilderness – An Evening of Untamed Films” will feature award-winning documentaries and captivating footage of wildlife at 7 p.m. on Friday at the Eagles Lodge, 209 Sherman Ave. in Coeur d’Alene.

Featured films cover topics such as:

• The Chuitna River, a wilderness salmon stronghold is threatened by a proposed massive coal strip mine.
• Wolves and their impact on entire ecosystems, as demonstrated by the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone National Park.
• Sage-grouse and the struggles to manage these unique native birds as they decline in the American West.
• The Eastern Hellbender, an ancient creature known as America’s Last Dragon, is also America’s largest salamander.

The second half of the show features Patagonia’s newest film, “Jumbo Wild,” which looks into the 24-year-old controversy over a proposed four-season large-scale ski resort in the heart of the Purcell mountains of British Columbia, Canada.

The films offer an opportunity to reflect upon the interrelationship between people and wildlife, as we work out ways to share our planet’s landscapes.

The films are sponsored by the Idaho Conservation League and the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness. Beer, wine, cocktails and raffle prizes are planned. Proceeds will benefit the groups’ effort to conserve public lands.

Tickets are $7. Info: (208) 265-9565

Protective status considered for species

WILDLIFE – Changes in the protective status of four wildlife species will be considered by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission at a public meeting Friday and Saturday in Olympia.

The meeting also will cover salmon and shellfish issues.

According to the agenda, the commission will consider state Fish and Wildlife Department recommendations to keep greater sage-grouse and western gray squirrels on the state’s threatened species list, and snowy plovers and northern spotted owls on the state’s endangered species list.

The department’s listing recommendations are included in the recently updated periodic status reviews for each species, including reports for greater sage-grouse, western gray squirrel, snowy plover and northern spotted owl.

Briefings on 10 proposals to acquire land for fish and wildlife habitat and public recreation will be presented to the commission. The Fish and Wildlife Department will seek potential funding from state and federal grants for approved projects later this year.

Montana offers reward for fish haulers

FISHING – Testing has confirmed that two walleye caught in western Montana’s Swan Lake last fall were illegally transplanted and not spawned there state wildlife officials say, and they’re not happy about it.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologists say microchemistry analysis of the inner ear bones of the fish indicates they were introduced to the lake sometime last year.

A fish’s inner ear bone incorporates the chemical makeup of the water as it grows. Biologists are analyzing fish from other areas to determine the origin of the transplanted walleyes.

If walleyes established a breeding population in Swan Lake, the predatory fish could damage the lake’s population of kokanee salmon and bull trout, which are classified as threatened.

The reward for information leading to the conviction of whoever is responsible for the illegal introduction is up to $30,000.

Last year, the state agency announced it was fed up with the costly consequences of selfish anglers who illegally transport and introduce fish, especially walleye, into state waters.

Mule deer hunt nets record bid

HUNTING – A Canadian hunter has set a world record high of $410,000 for a bid to hunt one of the giant mule deer bucks at a Utah state park in November.

The auction, which raises money for wildlife management, was held this month during the 10th annual Western Hunting and Conservation Expo at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City. The event is sponsored by the Salt Lake-based Mule Deer Foundation.

Troy Lorenz of Prince George, British Columbia, topped his own former record auction bid of $390,000, which he made last year. After filling that tag at Antelope Island State Park with a buck that scored 231 points on the Boone and Crockett scale, Lorenz saw the potential for bucks worth an even higher price tag.

The special tag auction gives the high bidder the right to one of two annual tags for hunting the fabled bucks of Antelope Island.

Antelope Island is known for its genetically “pure” herd of about 700 bison, but is also home to about 130 bighorn sheep and some 500 mule deer bucks, many of which are genetically endowed with world-class antlers.

Feds sued over grizzly status

CONSERVATION – A conservation group is suing the federal government for the second time in two years for failing to reclassify a small population of grizzly bears as endangered, the Associated Press reports.

The roughly 40 grizzly bears in the Cabinet-Yaak area along the Montana-Idaho border are considered a threatened species.

The Alliance for the Wild Rockies said in a Feb. 9 lawsuit that the population is in decline because of humans killing bears. The group says at least 100 bears are needed for the area’s grizzlies to avoid extinction.

An endangered listing would require protection of the bears’ habitat.

A 2014 lawsuit from the Alliance was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy. Molloy said the matter was moot because of a finding that year from U.S. officials that an endangered listing was not warranted.

Last week, tentative approval was given to mining operations that would drill under the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness despite concerns about the impacts to the endangered grizzlies.