In the Rockies today, Idaho expands its first-ever wolf hunt season; grizzly bears in Montana are expanding their range into prairies lands where they haven't been seen for decades; and a Montana judge reaffirms the grizzly bear's place on the federal endangered species list.
On Thursday, the Idaho wildlife commission voted to expand wolf season for three months in most of the state's wolf-hunt zones.
Hunters have thus far taken just half of the 220-wolf quota for the season, but wildlife commissioners stressed that the season will close before March 31st if the quota is reached before that date.
In Montana, where U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy was reconsidering his September decision that returned Yellowstone-area grizzly bears back under federal protection, Molloy decided he was right and the bears will remain under federal protection.
Also in Montana, grizzly bear specialists said this year more and more bears made their way off the Rocky Mountain Front into the prairies, and one nearly made it to the Missouri River, where the bear could have enjoyed miles of remote country that hosts large cottonwood stands and dense riparian vegetation -- perfect habitat for bears.
In order to complete critical updates for its web site, Headwaters News will not publish next week.
Our next edition will publish Nov. 30.
Rockies today
Idaho board votes to extend wolf hunt to March 31
At its meeting Thursday, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission extended the wolf hunt from Dec. 31st to March 31st in the Panhandle, Palouse-Hells Canyon, Selway, Middle Fork, Salmon, Southern, and South Idaho zones; wolf hunters have so far killed 110 of the 220 wolves allowed this wolf season.
Idaho Statesman (AP); Nov. 20
Montana judge reaffirms earlier ruling on grizzly bears
Montana U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy reconsidered his September ruling that ordered Yellowstone-area grizzly bears back under federal protection and ruled again that the bears should remain under federal protection.
Billings Gazette (AP); Nov. 20
Grizzly bears push into the prairies of Montana
This past year was unprecedented in Montana for grizzly bears expanding their range from the Rocky Mountain Front into the prairies, with one bear nearly making it to the Missouri River, where miles and miles of remote, excellent bear habitat exists. An article by Jason D.B. Kauffman, guest writer.
NewWest.net; Nov. 20
Grand Canyon park embraces effort to respond to climate change
Grand Canyon National Park officials pledged to make the Arizona park one of 50 nationally to embark on an aggressive campaign targeted in response to a changing climate, with plans to recycle more, use less water and energy and curb greenhouse gas emissions.
Arizona Daily Sun; Nov. 20
Groups ask Utah mine board to stop proposed coal mine
The Utah chapter of the Sierra Club, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the National Parks Conservation Association filed a petition with the Utah Board of Oil, Gas and Mining to stop the state's first coal strip mine on private land near Bryce Canyon National Park.
Salt Lake Tribune; Nov. 20
Oil group disputes validity of BLM's decision on Utah leases
A report issued Thursday by the Independent Petroleum Association of Mountain States disputed the findings of Mike Stiles, the U.S. Forest Service supervisor hand-picked by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to review the 77 energy leases in Utah Salazar pulled early last year.
Deseret News; Nov. 20
Eight Utah businesses on ICE list for employment audits
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's new list of 1,000 businesses that will face an audit of records to verify employees' identity and employment eligibility contains eight from Utah.
Deseret News; Nov. 20
Opinion
Idaho's federal lawmakers need a dose of reality on health care
Every member of Idaho's congressional delegation went on record opposing health care reform legislation before Congress, a fairly easy decision for them to make in their current insured state, with taxpayers keeping the lights on in their comfortable offices, so they need to take a walk on the reality side of the debate and talk to folks who live in the real world of the current health system.
Idaho Mountain Express (Sun Valley); Nov. 20
Micromanaged, reintroduced wolves aren't really wild
Given all the technology implanted and collared on wolves reintroduced into Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, the micromanaged predators can hardly be classified as wild. A column by George Sibley for High Country News' Writers on the Range.
Missoula Independent (High Country News); Nov. 20
Beyond the region
Report: Nuclear power plants contaminate Canada's water supply
Tritium on Tap, a report to be issued today by the Sierra Club of Canada, said that radioactive emissions from the nation's nuclear power plant have contaminated Canada's water supply, and that Canada allows levels of tritium in the water that far exceed other countries' safe standards.
Toronto National Post; Nov. 20
FHA backs loans in upscale, expensive markets
The Federal Housing Administration is backing loans for expensive real estate in areas it has never ventured before: San Francisco's Bay Area, Seattle and Portland, Ore., a move analysts said raises the risk to American taxpayers.
New York Times; Nov. 20
Report: 9.6 percent of U.S. homeowners lag on mortgage payments
Economists said continued job loss is the primary reason the number of homeowners in the United States that are late on their mortgages is in record territory, with the bulk of the foreclosure problem remaining in the same four states: Florida, California, Arizona, and Nevada.
Christian Science Monitor; Nov. 20
In depth
Wyoming county tweaks wind-energy regulations
The Natrona County Commission voted Tuesday to change some of the wind-energy regulations put in place a year ago to allow residents in more remote areas of the Wyoming county to install taller turbines.
Casper Star-Tribune; Nov. 20
Idaho county begins rezoning process for nuclear-power plant
Elmore County’s Planning and Zoning Commission voted to begin rewriting the Idaho county's comprehensive plan to remove conflicts with a proposed 1,600-megawatt nuclear power plant near Hammett.
Twin Falls Times-News; Nov. 20
Colorado county scrambles to rework solar-panel rules
The Pitkin County Commission will consider next month new height limits for solar-power installations approved by the Colorado county's planning commission that raises the height limit for free-standing solar collectors from 10 to 16 feet.
Aspen Times; Nov. 20
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