An Idaho State Journal editorial (9/4), "Falling victim to a thoughtless predator policy," chastises the Idaho Fish and Game Commission (FGC) for their newly approved predator control policy which affects mountain lions, black bears, coyotes, foxes and some smaller predators. The editorial calls it a "shoot on sight" policy that falls just barely "short of declaring an all-out war on animals that eat other animals in Idaho." The key point the editorial makes in opposition to the new policy is that biological studies by Idaho’s Fish and Game Department have found that in most areas of the state predators are having little influence on the state’s deer, elk and sage grouse populations. While the Department’s biologists did recommend selective control in some areas, the commission "took that science and essentially tossed it out the window." The editorial further notes: "Not one single member of the Idaho Fish and Game Commission has any scientific or biological training when it comes to predator control," but they still "hoot and holler … about doing what’s best for Idaho's sportsmen and its game herds." In addition to the Idaho State Journal editorial, Idaho and Montana representatives of 21 environmental and animal protection groups have sent a letter to the Commission opposing the new policy.

COALITION PROTECTS 5,000 ACRES IN ARKANSAS:

A coalition led by Ducks Unlimited has completed a deal that will protect more than five thousand acres of wildlife habitat, largely in Arkansas’ White River ecosystem. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the National Wild Turkey Federation, and numerous private donors helped finance the deal, which cost $4.3 million.

Manager of conservation programs at Ducks Unlimited, Dr. Alan Wentz said, "The majority of the land was bottomland hardwoods—habitat that is critical to many species of ducks, a myriad of shorebirds, songbirds, wading birds, even bald eagles" (ENS, 8/31). Today, less than 5 million acres remain of the bottomland hardwoods that previously covered 24 million acres in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley. Len Pitcock, director of communications for Arkansas Game & Fish Commission agreed that the hardwood areas supported some of the largest concentrations of wintering waterfowl in Arkansas. Quoted in the Memphis-based Commercial Appeal (9/1) he said, "I’ve heard estimates of 450,000 to a half-million birds on (Raft Creek) property alone." Parts of the Raft Creek property had been drained and cleared, but the wetland hydrology will be partially restored before it is opened next year as a wildlife management area.

MINNESOTANS FOR RESPONSIBLE RECREATION OPPOSE THE RANDOM SCRAMBLE:

The Cook County News-Herald of Grand Marais, Minnesota reports (8/30) that Minnesotans for Responsible Recreation (MRR) have formed a new committee to oppose an "explosion of motorized recreation" on state lands. MRR claims that only 20 percent of the public participate in motorized trail use while 80 percent are interested in nonmotorized outdoor activities. Jamie Juenemann, Vice Chair of MRR, led the discussion with about 50 concerned citizens who are seeking peace and quiet in the woods by pressing the state’s Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) for a more balanced recreation trail plan. MRR claims the DNR ignored its own April 1997 draft recommendations for managing off-highway vehicles (OHVs) though a system that protects the environment and rights of other trail users. Current plans would expand the 18,000-mile snowmobile trail system in the state and build more "random scramble" areas, including one that overlaps the Superior Hiking Trail. "Random scramble" areas allow free access to large blocks of land by OHVs, including 4-wheel drive pickup trucks. Juenemann, an 11-year veteran of the DNR said, "The DNR has taken a wrong turn in managing public resources in the state." For more information on MRR’s OHV campaign, including the final recommendations from their new report, "Off-Highway Vehicles in Minnesota," visit their website at http://www.cpinternet.com/~mrr/ohvs.htm.

ENVIRONMENT HIGH ON A VOTER POLL IN MARYLAND:

AGENCY ACTIONS:

• On August 31, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (TPWC) approved new regulations on shrimping and offshore fishing industries. Environmental groups were calling on Gov. Bush and the TPWC to create a year-round Kemp’s Ridley Marine Reserve along 100 miles of Padre Island to protect the endangered turtles and other marine species. (See Defenders’ WILDLines #7.) Instead, the TPWC decided to close the area out to five nautical miles, but only from Dec. 1 through July 15. They also shortened the entire shrimping season by 15 days and enacted other measures, hoping that cuts now would save the industry in the future.

• In a last minute move, Michigan’s Natural Resources Commission (NRC) eliminated the discussion of a report by the Dept. of Natural Resource’s Old Growth Committee from the agenda of its Sept. 13-14 meeting. (See Defenders’ WILDLines #8.) The report has been submitted to the committee but has so far been blocked from public release. Michigan’s Sierra Club said that the "delay continues to mean that old forests are being cut."

• The North Carolina Pesticides Board is considering whether an in-depth study is needed to investigate the use of herbicide spraying by timber companies in the bogs and swamps of the state’s coastal plain. Herbicides are used to kill plants that compete with pine trees for nutrients and sunlight. Residents in the area, along with environmentalists, fear the herbicides are affecting water quality and aquatic wildlife in nearby streams.

BALLOT MEASURES:

• In November, Alaska voters will get a chance to end the "Same-Day Land-and-Shoot" wolf hunting legislation passed this session over the Governor’s veto. The Alaska Division of Elections added the measure (Proposition 6) to the ballot after over 38,000 voter signatures—more than twice as many as needed—were submitted on petitions. Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game has stated that landing and killing wolves after tracking and spotting them from aircraft is the wrong way to address wolf control, is unenforceable, gives hunting a bad image, and leads to other wildlife abuses.

• On August 31, the Arizona Supreme Court reversed a lower court ruling and put Proposition 100 back on the ballot. The referendum, put on the ballot by the Legislature, would allow a maximum of just three percent of the state’s trust land to be protected from development and authorizes trading trust land for public land. It was ruled unconstitutional by a lower court because it includes the separate issue of extending state land grazing leases used by ranchers. (See Defender's WILDLines #6.) Statements by over two dozen environmental groups opposing this measure can be found at http://www.noprop100.com/.

CONFERENCES/COURSES:

• "Predators, People, and Places: Finding a Balance"

October 6-8; Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park

The Predator Conservation Alliance’s (PCA) first annual conference and membership meeting includes lectures and panel discussions with leading predator scientists and a keynote address by Dave Foreman. The $30 registration fee covers field trips and some food. For more information, visit the PCA website at http://www.predatorconservation.org/ or contact Jennifer Miller of PCA at jennifer@predatorconservation.org or (406) 587-3389.

• Second Annual National Forest Protection Alliance Convention

October 12-15; Trinity Mountain Ranch in Black Hawk, Colorado

Grassroots forest activists from across the nation will gather to review and revise the strategy to end the commercial logging program on public lands at this event co-sponsored by Colorado Wild and the National Forest Protection Alliance (NFPA). For more information, contact the NFPA Network Office at (406) 542-7565 or nfpa@wildrockies.org. Pre-registration is required.

COURT ACTIONS:

• The New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance and the town of West Milford have filed a court challenge to appeal a decision by the New Jersey Fish and Game Council (FGC) that allows black bear hunting. They claim that the FGC "does not have the legal authority to order a hunt, and should have conducted more research about alternatives to bear hunting" (AP, 9/6), including birth control and deterrence. Twenty towns in the state passed resolutions opposing the bear hunt. If the suit fails, the state’s first bear hunt in nearly 30 years will start on September 18.

GOVERNOR’S ACTIONS:

• According to ENS (9/5), Texas Governor George W. Bush accepted the "Governor of the Year" award from Safari Club International. The Safari Club is best know for promoting the trophy hunting of "exotic" species such as endangered elephants, rhinoceros, leopards, polar bears and crocodiles through its worldwide big game hunting expeditions. In the U.S., the Safari Club is working to promote the "canned" hunts of animals in enclosures.

• In a report entitled "California’s Failed Forest Policy," PEER (Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility) claims that California Gov. Davis’ administration "deliberately obstructs the California Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) efforts to protect fish and wildlife from the impacts of timber harvests and has failed to promote needed reforms." Among the problems documented in the report, based on interviews with 70 state agency employees, PEER finds that administration concessions to the Pacific Lumber Company in the Headwaters Forest Habitat Conservation Plan have resulted in the decline of listed species such as the northern spotted owl and marbled murrelet. For more information or to download the report visit http://www.peer.org/.

SPECIES ACTIONS:

• "Wolf Awareness Week 2000," a vehicle for educating the public and dispelling misconceptions about the role predators play in maintaining biodiversity, runs from October 15 through 21. Currently Kentucky, Ohio, Nebraska, and Wisconsin are participating, but the hope is to get all 50 states to recognize Wolf Awareness Week. Letters are needed to the Governors of other states, urging them to recognize the importance of participating in Wolf Awareness Week. For more information, including sample letters and proclamations, contact Charlotte Byrne of Defenders of Wildlife at cbyrne@defenders.org or visit http://www.defenders.org/waw/letter.html.

• California S.B. 2149 (Polanco)

Makes it a crime to sell or exchange an exotic animal to a hunting ranch.

Passed Senate 5/24/00; passed Assembly 8/24/00; enrolled 8/25/00.

FOREST LANDS:

• California A.B. 717 (Keeley)

Imposes a two-year moratorium on forest clearcutting. (See Defenders’ WILDLines #7.)

Passed Assembly 1/26; received Do Pass from Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water 8/23/00.

FUNDING:

• New Jersey S.B. 1375-1381

This series of seven bills appropriates $75 million from the Garden State Preservation Trust Fund in grants to cities, counties, and nonprofit organizations. The bulk of the money will be used to acquire open space for recreation and conservation. (See Defenders’ WILDLines #8.)

S.B. 1375 (Cardinale, Kyrillos, Roonet & Garrett) - Signed by Governor 9/1/00.

S.B. 1376 (Bucco) - Signed by Governor 8/29/00.

S.B. 1377 (Inverso & Bennett) - Signed by Governor 8/30/00.

S.B. 1378 (Kerry & O’Connor) - Signed by Governor 8/31/00.

S.B. 1379 (McNamara, Matheussen, Lance & Gibson) - Signed by Governor 8/31/00.

S.B. 1380 (Ciesla) - Signed by Governor 8/28/00.