Bear Managers forced to Put Down Food Conditioned Grizzly Bear in Idaho

On April 22nd, trappers from USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Wildlife Services along with assistance from IDFG (Idaho Department of Fish & Game)  were forced to euthanize a three-year old female grizzly that had come out of hibernation and originally started getting into garbage cans in a subdivision near the Idaho/Wyoming border outside of Driggs, Idaho.  The bear had been relocated last year after becoming habituated to apple orchards on the North Fork of the Shoshone River in Wyoming. Compounding the problem of the bear’s addiction to human related foods was the fact that local residents had not been complying with a bear sanitation ordinance that went into effect for Teton County last year.  The bear had lost all fear of people and out of concern for human safety the United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) authorized removal of the bear.

According to IDFG Regional Wildlife Manager Daryl Meints, “While the Yellowstone Ecosystem is a big place, there is no where you can put a problem bear without the chance of it getting back into trouble.” The fact that the bear had become habituated to human related foods meant that it was likely to run into problems no matter where it might have been released, but the fact that residents were failing to follow the guidelines of the bear sanitation order regarding the storage of garbage cans accelerated the bear’s downfall.

The Yellowstone Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan requires that bears be relocated within the state that they were captured in when causing problems.  This bear had been released in Wyoming near Squirrel Meadows, but had spent the fall and even denned for the winter in Idaho. Earlier in the week, IDFG had been working with WGF (Wyoming Game & Fish) to attempt to capture the bear after it would retreat into the foothills of Wyoming after several nights of raiding in Idaho, where it also seemed to develop a taste for foam rubber products like hot tub covers and cars seats.

Teton County Prosecutor Kathy Spitzer had already begun to address the situation by sending out letters to the residents failing to comply with the sanitation ordinance, but repeated raids by the bear and its total loss of fear of humans meant that dramatic action had to be taken.

According to IDFG Regional Supervisor Steve Schmidt, “We don’t enjoy having to do this, but the actions of the people caused us to.  While Yellowstone grizzlies are technically still on the Endangered Species List, the population is essentially recovered and this is the kind of management action we will need to take to keep people safe once bears become food conditioned.” Local conservation officers had been going door to door to inform residents about the bear’s presence and what they as homeowners needed to do to help prevent future problems.

The whole game plan shifted of Friday the 20th when the sow decided to food shift to a diet of domestic piglets, chickens, and bee hives, further south near the Victor Cemetery. Once the bear had gotten into domestic livestock, IDFG was able to request the assistance of USDA Wildlife Services trappers.  The bear struck again the next evening getting into some different chickens, as well as revisiting the previous site.  Trappers had placed a culvert trap out for the bear, but the bear would not enter it.  Fortunately, the bear did step into a snare that had also been set.  The bear was dispatched at daylight on Sunday when trappers were investigating the previous night’s activities.  The bear will be mounted for education purposes and placed in the United States Forest Service (USFS) Teton Ranger District Office, where it will be used to educate the public about the challenges of living in bear country.

A recent bear/human conflict workshop held in Missoula, Montana featured a number of sessions dealing with the growing problems associated with the popular  trend of personal chicken flocks and bears being attracted to them. Not only are bears attracted to chickens, but even something as seemingly benign as a compost pile can be a irresistible draw for bears. According to Meints, “People living in bear country need look at everything they do and figure out if it will attract bears; because even though we took care of this one, there are still other black and grizzly bears out there in the woods!”

A good starting point to learn about living with bears is the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) website, found atwww.igbconline.org.

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Image of Trapped Wolf Causing Controversy in the Outdoor Community and Beyond

Trapper Josh Bransford has created quite the controversy for himself and the hunting and trapping community as a whole. Earlier in March, Bransford, a fire management officer from Idaho, posted a photo and a story on the hunting and trapping website www.Trapperman.com. The photo appears to show a living male wolf restrained in a trap, with a large amount of blood on the ground as Bransford appears to smile in the foreground. While wolf trapping and hunting is legal in Idaho, the controversy comes from the fact that the animal is still alive and may be suffering. Many groups are calling for an investigation, and possibly prosecution, including the Center for Biological Diversity, which has requested that the Idaho Attorney General investigate the matter. However, no charges have been filed against Mr. Bransford at this time.

According to state officials, Mr. Bransford had met all the necessary conditions to legally hunt or trap wolves. This means that he participated in a mandatory state class on wolf trapping, had permission to trap on the land, and Mr. Bransford had the necessary permits to trap wolves. In their brief investigation, state conservation officers found no immediate wrongdoing on the part of Mr. Bransford. However the assertion that Mr. Bransford is innocent has been challenged by environmental and animals’ rights groups which believe that in posing with what appears to be an injured animal, Mr. Bransford is in violation of Title 25, Chapter 35 of the Idaho Code, which prohibits animal cruelty. These claims may or may not have any validity given the small amount of actual evidence that is available at this time.

I contacted a respected professional trapper who has worked with the US Fish and Wildlife Service who agreed to speak with me on condition of anonymity, who I will refer to as John. When I showed him the picture, the first thing that he said was that “these types of traps are not meant to wound the animal, they are simply meant to hold the animal in one place,” adding that “these are not the vicious traps you see on television and in the movies with sharp teeth that snap and hurt the animal.”  John went on to say that “in the past traps didn’t account for the suffering of the animal, and they  cut off the circulation to limbs, which would then lead to animals trying to chew off their own limbs. This also happens when an oversized trap is used but in this photo it appears he used the correct size trap so it would not be responsible for torn limbs.” When I asked him where the apparent blood in the photograph came from he was not exactly sure. He said that “I am almost certain that that blood is not from the trap, and barring any extra human influence my best guess is that the blood may have been from the wolf’s mouth as he tried to chew on the trap or trap chain.”

In conclusion, John said that “Any trapper will tell you that they want to be as humane as possible and inflict the least suffering on animals. Trappers are more humane than ever before due to the amount of money invested into scientific studies. When I trap an animal I dispatch it immediately upon discovery so that it does not suffer, or escape injured.”

Idaho has laws that make it a crime for any individual who “causes or procures any animal to be cruelly treated, or who, having the charge or custody of any animal either as owner or otherwise, subjects any animal to cruelty.”  This situation has inflamed the already fragile relations between hunters, environmentalists, and animals’ rights groups which have been deeply divided over the 2011 USFWS services decision to remove many wolf populations from the endangered species list.

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RMEF Allocates $1.2 Million for Habitat Work in Six States

So far in 2012, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has allocated $1,258,888 for habitat stewardship and protection projects in six key elk states. The figure represents a significant increase from 2011. More than 139,000 acres should be conserved for elk and other wildlife in 2012 as a result of these initial allocations. Affected states include Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming.  RMEF will announce funding allocations for additional states later this year.

The combined allocation for the initial six states is $181,562, or 16 percent, higher than their total from 2011. The increase is based on a strong upward trend in banquet-based memberships and fundraising performance by RMEF chapters and volunteers in the respective states.

“Thanks to RMEF volunteers and supporters and a wave of momentum, our organization is positioned to pump more money than ever into crucial habitat work in six major areas of elk country,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO.

Allocated amounts and acres expected to be conserved in 2012:

• Colorado—$251,451 and 42,030 acres
• Idaho—$82,710 and 31,984 acres
• Montana—$257,011 and 21,658 acres
• Oregon—$165,000 and 11,483 acres
• Washington—$184,460 and 10,454 acres
• Wyoming—$318,256 and 21,555 acres

Combined, 112 different conservation projects will receive RMEF funding.
Projects are selected for RMEF grants using science-based criteria and a committee of RMEF volunteers and staff along with representatives from partnering agencies and universities. Examples of projects include habitat stewardship such as prescribed burning, forest thinning and management, weed control, water improvements and more, mostly on public lands. Also included are research projects to improve management of elk, habitat, predators and other factors that influence conservation.

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RMEF Allocates $1.2 Million for Habitat Work in Six States

So far in 2012, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has allocated $1,258,888 for habitat stewardship and protection projects in six key elk states. The figure represents a significant increase from 2011. More than 139,000 acres should be conserved for elk and other wildlife in 2012 as a result of these initial allocations. Affected states include Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming.  RMEF will announce funding allocations for additional states later this year.

The combined allocation for the initial six states is $181,562, or 16 percent, higher than their total from 2011. The increase is based on a strong upward trend in banquet-based memberships and fundraising performance by RMEF chapters and volunteers in the respective states.

“Thanks to RMEF volunteers and supporters and a wave of momentum, our organization is positioned to pump more money than ever into crucial habitat work in six major areas of elk country,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO.

Allocated amounts and acres expected to be conserved in 2012:

• Colorado—$251,451 and 42,030 acres
• Idaho—$82,710 and 31,984 acres
• Montana—$257,011 and 21,658 acres
• Oregon—$165,000 and 11,483 acres
• Washington—$184,460 and 10,454 acres
• Wyoming—$318,256 and 21,555 acres

Combined, 112 different conservation projects will receive RMEF funding.
Projects are selected for RMEF grants using science-based criteria and a committee of RMEF volunteers and staff along with representatives from partnering agencies and universities. Examples of projects include habitat stewardship such as prescribed burning, forest thinning and management, weed control, water improvements and more, mostly on public lands. Also included are research projects to improve management of elk, habitat, predators and other factors that influence conservation.

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Southern Portion of Idaho’s Egin-Hamer Closure Now Open

Even though the winter was fairly light at lower elevations this year, natural resource managers at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Idaho Department of Fish & Game (IDFG) have tried to guarantee that wintering big games herds remained protected as long as possible and have maintained original closure dates as they relate to the Egin-Hamer closure and St. Anthony Sand Dunes. The southern portion of the closure opened to human entry on April 1st.

That portion of the Egin-Hamer Closure Area that is south of the Egin-Hamer Road  opened on schedule at sunrise on April 1^st.  The area north of the road surrounding the dunes remains closed until sunrise on May 1^st.   Maps of the closure are available at the regional IDFG and BLM Offices in Idaho Falls.   The closure is patrolled not only by law enforcement officers from BLM and IDFG, but also the Fremont County Sheriff’s Department.

Department staff are allowed as part of their administrative duties to enter the closure to carry out enforcement activities and retrieve radio collars from deceased study animals. Survey crews under the direction of the BLM may also be observed entering the closure.

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Fish and Wildlife Service Reopens Comment Period on Selkirk Mountains Woodland Caribou Critical Habitat Proposal

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced today that the public will have an additional 60 days to submit comments regarding the agency’s proposed critical habitat designation for the southern Selkirk Mountains woodland caribou, an endangered mammal known to occur in Idaho, Washington and British Columbia, Canada.

Idaho’s Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter, the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, and Boundary County, Idaho, asked for an extension to the comment period and additional opportunities for citizens to participate in public processes regarding the proposal.

“We recognize the public’s interest in this issue and will work together to help citizens fully understand our proposal to designate critical habitat for caribou,” said Brian Kelly, the Service’s State Supervisor for Idaho.

“We also seek to gain as much information as possible from all interested parties which we will use to inform our final decision.”

The Service is re-opening the public comment period on the caribou proposal for 60 days, until May 21, 2012.

Interested citizens are invited to attend a Service-hosted information meeting on Saturday, April 28, 2012 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Citizens will have an opportunity to learn more about the proposal by talking with Service biologists and managers at this information meeting.

The same day, a public hearing will be held from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. so that citizens will be able to provide formal oral comments for the Service to review and consider for its final decision. Speaker registration will begin at 1:00 p.m.

The information meeting and hearing will be at Bonners Ferry High School,

6485 Tamarack Lane, Bonners Ferry, Idaho 83805. The Service and Boundary County worked together to determine an adequate date and location to accommodate most citizens’ schedules, which is the reason for a weekend event.

Persons with disabilities needing reasonable accommodations to participate in the public meeting or hearing are invited to contact Cathy Rogers at 208-378-5387, cathy_rogers@fws.gov, or 503-231-6263 (TTY). Reasonable accommodations requests should be received at least 3 business days prior to the meeting to help ensure availability; 2 weeks notice is requested for ASL/ESL interpreter needs.

The Service will continue to work closely with Idaho’s Boundary and Bonner Counties, and Washington’s Pend Oreille County, to coordinate information-sharing with citizens on this proposal, including why we are designating critical habitat for the species and what this means for land-use activities in the area. Similarly, the public will be able to provide us with data, as well as share their concerns on the proposal, which will be used in forming our final decision.

All oral comments will be entered into the official public record. If time does not permit full oral testimony, the public is encouraged to bring written testimony for incorporation into the record.

The Service will open an additional 30-day public comment period during the economic analysis phase of the proposal, which will occur later this spring. When the final details are arranged, the Service will notify the public about this comment period, and information meeting and public hearing details.

In all, the three comment periods will provide citizens a total of 150 days to engage in public processes.

The Service is proposing to designate 375,565 acres of critical habitat in Idaho and Washington for the caribou. These lands are all currently considered to be occupied by the species and no exclusions or exemptions are proposed.

• Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In the Keyword box, enter Docket No. [FWS–R1-ES-2011-0096], which is the docket number for this rulemaking. Then, in the Search panel on the left side of the screen, under the
• Document Type heading, click on the Proposed Rules link to locate this document. You may submit a comment by clicking on “Send a Comment or Submission.”
• By mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS–R1-ES-2011-0096; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service;  4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042–PDM; Arlington, VA 22203.

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Mild Spring Means Bears Will Soon Be on the Move in Idaho

It’s no secret this has been an unusual winter for the entire country, and the Upper Snake Region of Idaho is no exception.  While the snowpack in the Island Park Area has been just below average, the air temperatures have leaned more towards spring than winter.  The milder temperatures means bears will be emerging from their dens.

Both black and grizzly bears can be found in the Upper Snake Region, but it is generally the male of both species that comes out first. Females with cubs den separately from the males and generally emerge after the males have had a chance to snack on winter-killed ungulates. Because of this focus by bears to regain lost fat reserves, everyone heading out to bear country should keep their eyes open and act accordingly.

Both black and grizzly bears originally called the Upper Snake Region home.  Today, black bears are still common in many locations. Their cousins the grizzlies are re-colonizing many places their ancestors inhabited in the not too distant past. Persons living or camping  in or near bear country need to remember their actions could  open themselves up for injury, and could lead a bear down the path of getting into trouble around humans; thus requiring it to be killed.

According to IDFG Regional Conservation Educator Gregg Losinski, “Once bears start getting into trouble around humans, chances are the outcome will not be good for the bear.  It is far better to avoid conflicts from the beginning, rather than hoping to fix them after they start. While conflicts can arise in the woods, most of the problems relating to bears occur where people live near bears, but fail to take the necessary precautions with things like garbage, bird feeders, BBQ grills, and pet food.”

Black bear hunters heading out for the start of general black bear season on April 15 should be especially careful to identify the species of bear they are looking at before they pull the trigger.  Not only is species identification important, but in Idaho, it is legal to take a female bear as long as no cubs are present.  It is important that bear hunters take the time to watch for cubs and make sure the bear is a black bear and not a grizzly.  Every year, hunters in the Yellowstone Ecosystem kill grizzly bears mistaken for black bears. Idaho Fish & Game has developed a bear identification website to help hunters, or anyone who ventures out into the woods, on how to tell the difference between a black and grizzly bear. http://tinyurl.com/6n5vwbk. According to Losinski, “Knowing the difference could save your life!”

A recent BYU study showed that while pistols in the hands of experts could be effective in stopping bears, the use of bear spray is still overall the best tool to deter an active assault. To learn more about all facets of living safely in bear country visit www.igbconline.org.

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Wildlife Service Kills 14 Wolves in the Lolo

Idaho Department of Fish and Game announced yesterday that it helped fund USDA Wildlife Services’ removal of 14 wolves in the Lolo zone of the Clearwater National Forest in northern Idaho. The federal action is part of an Idaho program to remove most wolves from a remote section of federal land in an attempt to boost elk numbers. An additional 28 wolves have been removed from this area through trapping, hunting, and previous aerial gunning.

Statewide, more than 400 wolves have been eliminated from Idaho’s population since the beginning of 2011. This represents a significant impact on the state’s wolf population, which was last estimated at 705 animals at the end of 2010. The participation of USDA Wildlife Services in state wildlife management is an inappropriate expansion of the federal role in non-endangered wildlife management under the Obama administration.

The following is a statement from Suzanne Stone, Northern Rockies representative for Defenders of Wildlife:

“It’s wrong to ask American taxpayers to subsidize the pointless killing of wolves in order to boost game populations. The removal of wolves in the Clearwater National Forest runs counter to science-based wildlife management and is an inappropriate use of limited resources that should be aimed at conserving wildlife. Hunters and trappers have already killed more than 20 wolves in the area in the last six months, and the season continues until the end of March. There’s no scientific evidence that the ecosystem is out of balance due to the return of wolves and thus no justification for having Wildlife Services kill more wolves to boost elk numbers.

“The decline of the Lolo elk herd was the result of multiple factors, including historic habitat changes, road-building, and over-hunting by humans. Killing wolves without addressing these other factors is misguided. Further, biologists do not have an accurate count of how many wolves are in the Lolo region, and Idaho has no formal plan in place to measure the impacts of killing wolves on the elk population. Targeting dozens of wolves could wipe most of them out of the area, defeating the purpose of restoring the species to its proper ecological role. Wolves are vital to maintaining nature’s balance and should not be eliminated so carelessly.

“Now that removal of wolves to boost elk herds has been allowed on the Clearwater National Forest, there’s nothing to stop wildlife managers from pursuing it elsewhere in the state. These actions validate our long-held concern that wolves were prematurely delisted based on inadequate state management plans that allow wolf numbers to be drastically reduced.

“It’s time to put a stop to these aggressive, unwarranted actions by the state. It’s also time for the Obama administration to stop allowing Wildlife Services to help states eliminate native wildlife.”

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Idaho Senator Introduces Bill Which Would Allow Landowners to Hunt Wolf “By Any Means Available”

Senator Jeff Siddoway (R) recently introduced Senate Bill 1305 to Idaho State Legislature.  1305 would allow any live stock owner and/or his employees to hunt wolves in a variety of ways.

According to The Wildlife News, Siddoway had this to say about his proposed piece of legislation: “You can basically go after them [wolves] by any means available.”

You can read the full text of the law here: http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2012/S1305.pdf

Under the current wording the law would allow for livestock owners to hunt from motorized vehicles powered parachutes, helicopters, fixed wing airplanes and at any time day or night— without a permit.

These hunts must occur within 36 hours of a suspected livestock or domestic animal being molested or attacked. The law doesn’t not require the landowner to prove that a wolf or wolves attacked his animals.

Any wolves taken under this law would have to be turned over to the state within 72 hours of being killed and would remain the property of the state.

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RMEF, Partners Recognize Standout Conservation Pros

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service employees in four states—Idaho, Montana, New Mexico and Wyoming—have earned recognition for standout work to enhance and conserve habitat for elk and other wildlife.

Each has received a special award from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and their respective agency for conservation efforts in partnership with RMEF.

“These awards are meant to give a pat on the back and a thank-you to some of the finest professionals anywhere in wildlife conservation,” said Blake Henning, vice president of lands and conservation for RMEF. “Together, the BLM, U.S. Forest Service and RMEF are making a real difference in elk country.”

RMEF works with many partners, none more prominent than BLM and the U.S. Forest Service. Lands owned or managed by these federal agencies provide habitat for most elk in the U.S., as well as the most opportunities for elk hunters and other recreationists.

The awards were presented during the annual RMEF convention, called Elk Camp, which ended Feb. 4 in Las Vegas.

Honorees include:

RMEF/BLM Elk Conservation Awards

Partnership Coordination Award

Idaho—Christine Shaver, Idaho BLM office. Shavers was honored for standout national leadership in managing and coordinating grants for habitat stewardship. She oversaw funding and stewardship agreements involving 14 BLM offices in Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon and Wyoming. Through her work, a total of 5,600 acres were enhanced for elk and other wildlife.

Habitat Enhancement Award

New Mexico—BLM Taos Field Office. This entire staff was recognized for outstanding contributions to habitat enhancement in New Mexico. Active with RMEF since 1988, projects have included native seed planting on 1,348 acres in the Ute Mountain area, aspen restoration on the Taos Plateau, Buffalo Pinon water development and many others to benefit elk and other wildlife.

Individual Achievement Award

Wyoming—Jack Mononi, BLM Cody Field Office. Mononi, a range conservationist, was recognized for his achievements in partnership with the RMEF since 1993. He has submitted 30 successful grant proposals over the last 18 years to enhance a combined 20,112 acres of Wyoming elk country. Many of these projects were prescribe burns, noxious weed treatments and water developments.

RMEF/U.S. Forest Service Elk Country Awards

Elk Country Award

Montana—Jane Ingebretson, Swan Lake Ranger District, Flathead National Forest. A wildlife biologist, Ingebretson was recognized for her work in partnership with RMEF since 1995. She has submitted 19 projects, mostly prescribe burns, for RMEF funding. She also has overseen completion of those projects totaling more than 3,500 acres. An additional 1,000 acres in habitat stewardship are expected for completion in 2012.

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