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YELLOWSTONE |
IN THE NEWS TODAY: Wolf Update -- by Bruce Gourley Compensation for Predator Kills -- News Brief Old Faithful Rings in NewYear -- News Brief Symposium on Predators -- News Brief Daily Environmental News -- from ISyndicate |
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ROAD REPORT PUBLISHER EDITOR-IN- |
WOLF UPDATE by Bruce Gourley YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (YNET) -- The wolves of Yellowstone have been much in the news as of late, especially in Montana. Much of Thursday's edition of the Billings Gazette was dedicated to the controversy surrounding wolves just north of the Park, which include allegations by some that the predators are responsible for the reduction in the size of the Northern Yellowstone elk herd. Virtually the entire frontpage of the Gazette was focused on the "Elk vs. Wolves" controversy. Despite the attention and rhetoric, however, there is no evidence to be found that wolves are actually responsible for the elk attrition rate. Nonetheless, emotions are running high among some folks north of Yellowstone. In the midst of this, federal officials are now saying that they believe a 2 1/2 year old female wolf killed in the Mill Creek drainage 20 miles south of Livingston, Montana, in late November or early December, may have been killed intentionally. Yellowstone's wolves are protected under the Endangered Species Act. The death of the wolf is under investigation, and officials are seeking individuals who may have information pertaining to the death. Several thousand dollars in reward money is being offered for information regarding the death. Yellowstone National Park officials consider the death of the wolf to be a setback for efforts to remove wolves from the Endangered Species Act. This is the first criminal investigation of a Yellowstone wolf death in Montana since the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone in 1995.
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AND COLUMNISTS Ralph Maughan
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COMPENSATION FOR
PREDATOR KILLS News Brief Defenders of Wildlife, in an effort to help alleviate the predator concerns of ranchers in western states, has a program which pays ranchers for livestock lost to wolves or grizzlies. Last year, Defenders paid nearly $50,000 to ranchers in Montana, Idaho and Arizona. Of that amount, $35,000 went to ranchers who lost livestock to wolves, while the remaining $15,000 was for grizzly-related losses. Most of the money went to central Idaho, where the wolf population is expanding rapidly. Since 1987, Defenders of Wildlife has paid out over $100,000 to ranchers in compensation for wolf losses.
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| OLD FAITHFUL
RINGS IN NEW YEAR News Brief About 350 people were on hand at Old Faithful on New Year's day to ring in the year 2000. Some 200 watched Old Faithful Geyser erupt at 11:45 PM the night of December 31, and then at 1:08 AM on January 1, the first eruption of 2000. Some attendees wore formal attire. The party was open to everyone at the Snow Lodge and featured an international buffet and five-piece jazz band. |
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| SYMPOSIUM ON
PREDATORS THIS WEEKEND News Brief BILLINGS, Mont. -- A symposium scheduled here on Saturday is designed to give some insight into the status of predators in Montana, including their impact on other wildlife. Federal biologists Douglas Smith and Edward Bangs will be present to talk about wolves. Chris Servheen, federal grizzly bear recovery coordinator, will talk about bears. Glenn Erickson, Wildlife Management Bureau chief for Fish, Wildlife and Parks will also be a participant, as will Dan Pletscher, from the wildlife biology faculty of the University of Montana. There will be a number of other panelists involved as well. The meeting will from 8:30 AM to 4 PM at the Holiday Inn Grand Montana. |
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