Sept 24, 2017 The Yellow Pine Times – Valley County, Idaho
Village News:
Monday’s Power Outages
Monday September 18, our power went off at 1134am. Idaho Power recording said the outages was from Smiths Ferry up thru Cascade, Donnelly, McCall and Warm Lake to Yellow Pine. Power came back on just after 515pm (off for less than 5 hours.) Then, at 1007pm the power went off again. The Idaho Power recording just after midnight said there were 3000 people in the dark, from Warm Lake to Yellow Pine and Cascade to Donnelly, also Round Valley and Smiths Ferry. Power came back on after 2am (off nearly 4 hours.) Was unable to find out the cause.
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Snow in the High Country Sept 21, 2017
photo courtesy Midas Gold (see story in Idaho News)
Snow on VanMeter Sep 20th
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Bear Aware
Bear reported on the west side of the village this last week. Bears are looking for food. Keep garbage secured and pet food indoors.
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Just for the Halibut September 30 at 4pm
Sponsored by Stew Edwards, Hosted by the Tavern. September 30th at 4pm
Join us for Food & Fun $5 suggested donation gets you 5 raffle tickets for donated prizes Benefits go to the Landing Zone for Yellow Pine.
The Usual YP Pot Luck Bring a side dish to share!
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Ditch Day October 4 at 10am
This is the day we clean and repair the village ditches in preparation for the spring run-off. Please join us.
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H-Fest Meeting October 14
Saturday October 14th is the next Harmonica meeting at noon, at the community hall.
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VYPA News:
Village of Yellow Pine Association Meeting September 9th, 2017
[Draft Minutes]
Officers in Attendance: Deb Filler Chairman, Lorinne Munn Secretary, Kathy Hall Member at Large. Also in attendance 15 other members of the community.
1. Meeting was called to order at 2:02Pm by Deb Filler Chairman.
2. Willie moved the minutes be approved as posted there was no objection.
3. Treasurer’s report by Joel Fields was read by Deb Filler as follows:
a. As of August 31st, Total Community Funds $33,347.24
b. General Village Fund $7079.77
c. Cemetery Fund $5,532.38
d. Harmonica Fund $14,463.18
e. Community Hall Fund $(16.60)
f. Restroom Fund $6,288.51
g. Note must be made that the Cemetery fund received $100.00 for a plot this month which wasn’t on the last statement. The Community Hall fund has a negative due to Mark Hardesty plumbing supplies came to $425.17 The Harmonica Fund picked up $225.17 of this cost and the Community Hall Fund the remaining $200.00. Mark gave his labor for free, Thank You Mark.
4. Community Hall report by Kathy Hall. We made $162.00 for the Labor Day Community Breakfast which was split with the Harmonica Festival since their product was used for the breakfast. She is working on a Process Manual for the Hall. She is also working on ideas for fundraising for the Hall. On the wish list is a cover for the outside grill, fixing the foundation, and painting the outside of the Hall. Thanks to our Fire Department we have fire extinguishers and fire alarms for the Hall. Lynn Imel has donated a prep table which is installed. The Fillers have donated 3 propane tanks for our heater in the main part of the Hall. Lynn is getting wheels for the piano. Dawn Brown has donated $250.00 for use of the Hall for her Fly-In this month. Kathy still needs Vintage T Shirts for certain years and electrical help to fix a switch. The Hall will be winterized October 15th.
5. Willie Sullivan gave the Cemetery report. No new plots were sold this last month. The kiosk posts were rotted and new posts will be cemented in by next Friday.
6. Willie also gave a Community Hall Bathroom report. Stu Edwards has finished the plans. Next step is a building permit from Valley County. At this rate it will be next spring because concrete is involved in the proposed block and concrete foundation. It will have wooden floors and walls and be ADA compliant.
7. Lynn Imel was not present for a Membership Committee report.
8. Deb Filler submitted the Annual Written Harmonica Committee report. There are outstanding expenses and revenues which should all be in by the end of the month at which time the Budget total will be closed. As of now the remaining funds that will be transferred to the general fund is $729.50. The festival funds have already purchased the griddles, propane tank installation, propane, and plumbing expense. The total donated for the village benefit was/will be at least $3,298.43 (this could be more if additional funds are received before the 30th.) In the past, disposal fees to Lakeshore Disposal which was donated in the past but not now. This was an unexpected expense this year. We also have fees for the medical team. We have a new source of income from Project Filter for $500.00 to post no smoking signs. There are still several outstanding sources of revenue and expense for the Harmonica Fest. We received a $10,000.00 grant for advertising for the 2018 festival. This is an 87.5% reimbursement grant through the Bureau of Tourism. The McCall Chamber of Commerce is our fiscal agent (as we are not a 5013c charity). Saturday October 14th is the next Harmonica meeting at noon, at the community hall. Everyone is welcome to become part of the committee. We will be looking at what worked or did not work; income & expenses; new ideas.
9. Kyle reported for Midas Gold. He said the Geotechnical drilling is done for now. There will be more core drilling at the end of next month. There will be a winter drill program of 2-3 months. The Geotechnical drilling is foundation drilling for engineering and design. There will be more field work by contractors before the snow flies to support design and get to the feasibility level. If anyone wants more information about Midas Gold plans please contact Belinda Provancher at provancher @ midasgoldinc.com
10. The chairpersons meeting was reported on by Deb Filler. All committees are meeting their requirements as to number of members. Kathy is head of the Community Hall committee, Lynn is head of the Membership committee, Deb is head of the Harmonica committee. The cemetery is by commission not a committee of which Willy is the head commissioner.
11. The 2nd reading of the motion to change the By Laws so the Offices of Harmonica and Chairperson of the Village of Yellow Pine Association cannot be held concurrently by the same Officer was read by Deb Filler. There was objection to this motion by Cecil Dallman and Bill McIntosh. The third reading will be in the June meeting.
Old Business
Candy Sullivan reported on the Labor Day golf tournament and auction: $1,818.50 was raised and will distributed as follows. $556.00 will go to the bathroom fund of which $100.00 will still be coming in from Midas. $510.00 for fireworks. $752.50 to the Helicopter Pad. Candy thinks the bathroom has enough funds already to build the bathroom so if the Labor Day funds are not needed for that she indicated the $556.00 will go to the Helicopter Pad.
New Business
Deb Filler reported Ditch Day will be Wednesday October 4th starting at 10AM. It is held the 1st Wednesday in October yearly. Pick a ditch and clean it. This will help preserve the work we paid for a few years ago and prevent spring run-off flooding. Deb says we still have parts of our ditch clearing program that was engineered and needs doing but we ran out of funds to complete the project. For example, the back Alley behind Stiffs and the Community Hall if cleared would prevent the flooding that occurs there. The area along Kuenzli’s pasture needs attention and the hill ditches need to be realigned, among other items still on the list.
Meeting was adjourned at 3:01PM by Deb Filler
Next Meeting is in June
Submitted by Lorinne N. Munn, Secretary Yellow Pine Village Association
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YPFD News:
Training is on Sundays starting at 11am at the YP Fire Station and open to the community of Yellow Pine. Check with Jeff or Ann to confirm trainings.
Fire Siren will be tested at noon on the first of each month.
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Follow The Yellow Pine Times on Facebook
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Local Observations:
Monday (Sep 18) windy night, early morning sprinkles, overcast and blustery this morning with a few drops of rain. Birds and squirrels must be under cover, the only sound was the wind in the trees and vehicles up on the main road. Sprinkles, showers and blustery all morning. Power out 1134am, Idaho Power recording said power out in Smiths Ferry, Cascade, Donnelly, McCall, Warm Lake and Yellow Pine. Loud thunderstorm and hard rain this afternoon, high of 49 degrees. Power came on about 515pm. Sprinkles, showers and low clouds this evening. Low strings of fog/clouds streaming past Golden Gate – closer to the ground than the peak. Break in the rain at 7pm. Power out 1007pm for almost 4 hours. Rain during the night and early morning.
Tuesday (Sep 19) still raining this morning, low of 34 degrees and very low clouds. We received .067″ of rain in the last 24 hours. Snow on top of Golden Gate, snow line approx 6000′ on VanMeter. Rain snow mix after 9am for about 20 minutes, then back to rain. Pretty much rained all day, just varying in intensity, high of 43 degrees. Quiet day. Pileated woodpecker on the power pole this evening and a small flock of juncos searching the ground for food just before dark (usually don’t see juncos here until snow in on the ground) and robins are still around. Probably rained all night.
Wednesday (Sep 20) still raining this morning, low of 34 degrees and overcast. We received 0.55″ of rain in the last 24 hours. Snow line on VanMeter is lower than yesterday morning and Johnson Creek ridge is white. Half a dozen juncos in the yard, pileated woodpecker and a flicker calling, 2 finches and robins all around. Rained all day, clouds dropping low on the mountains, and quiet. Cool wet day, high of 42 degrees. Stopped raining early evening and lots of birds flying around. Breaks in the clouds and cooling off before dark. Light fog around midnight.
Thursday (Sep 21) power blipped off and on at 834am. Started snowing around 7am, ground white by 9am. In the previous 24 hours we received 0.64″ of rain plus 0.02″ of melted snow. The clouds are clear to the valley floor and 32 degrees at 9am. Stopped snowing before noon and melted, breaks in the clouds. Robins, finches and nutcrackers flying. Snow line receding up the flanks of the hills early afternoon. Light sprinkles later in the afternoon and clouds half way down the mountains for a bit, high of 50 degrees. Robins flying and a flicker on the power line at dusk. Rain during the night.
Friday (Sep 22) still sprinkling this morning and above freezing, low clouds – ridges socked in, 0.20″ of rain/snow in 24 hours. A steller jay, a few pine siskins and several finches in the yard. Have not seen chipmunks out much for a couple of days, but pine squirrels are busy. Sprinkles and showers most of the morning and early afternoon, high of 47 degrees. Flock of clarks nutcrackers attacking pine cones in the trees. Light sprinkles or misting on and off all afternoon and early evening.
Saturday (Sep 23) overnight low of 33 degrees, “chunky’ overcast this morning. Heard a few clarks nutcrackers calling and spied one chipmunk looking nervously around. Loud dirt bike brapping about the neighborhood around 10am and 1130am. A few breaks in the clouds and getting breezy before lunch time. Airplane traffic in the afternoon. Cloudy evening, high of 52 degrees. A few rowdies after dark.
Sunday (Sep 24) clearing overnight, low of 26 degrees, almost clear this morning and first hard freeze of the season. Frost on windshields, metal roofs and grass (chicken water froze.) Heard a jay this morning (and loud dirt bike.) Low flying helicopter at 1055am. Airplane traffic shortly after 12 noon and clouds building up. Cloudy and breezy afternoon, high of 56 degrees. Rather large flock of clarks nutcrackers after the cones in pine trees this afternoon. Multiple low flying (loud) airplanes at 441pm. Mostly quiet evening, some truck/trailer traffic up on main street. Mostly cloudy at dark.
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Idaho News:
After the Snow Rolls in Midas Gold Team Helps Hunters
Midas Gold September 21
Early in the fall, it is always hard to predict what type of weather we will see up at the Stibnite Gold Project site. This week was no exception. Rain early in the week quickly changed to snow flurries and by the end of the day on Wednesday there were seven-foot snow drifts above Stibnite at Monumental Summit. This unexpected storm blanketed the roads and trapped two groups of hunters in the backcountry near our site. Fortunately, we were able to help them make it down from the mountains safely.
Late on Wednesday, a hunter stopped at the core shed on site after running into town to get snow chains and not being able to get back up to his hunting party. He was part of a larger group hunting on Mule Ridge when the storm hit. As soon as we learned they were stuck, we fired up our Cat dozer and backhoe and offered to open up the roads so they could get back home. It took us 20 staff hours in the deep snow but eventually everyone got down safely. You can see just how deep the snow is from the photos below.
Thursday morning, we learned of another group of four hunters who were trapped on the back side of Monumental Summit. One of the men had texting GPS device and was able to contact his wife. She was directed to contact our office by the Valley County Sheriff’s Office and see if we could help them. After 13 staff hours, our team cleared a path for the group and we just learned that everyone is on their home to their families.
In Idaho, especially in the backcountry, we all have to help take care of one another. We care deeply about our neighbors and are always happy to lend a hand. The amount of snow took everyone by surprise and we are grateful we played a small part in getting everyone home safely.
Link with photo gallery:
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CPR, First Aid classes to be taught in Donnelly
The Star-News September 21, 2017
CPR/AED and First Aid certification classes will be held at the Donnelly Fire Station on Monday, Oct. 2, and Tuesday, Oct. 3, at 6 p.m. The CPR/AED class will be Monday and First Aid will be taught on Tuesday. The cost of the class is $5, and space is limited. To register, call 208-325-8619.
source:
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Deadly Tamarack cabin fire ruled an accident
by KBOI News Staff Thursday, September 21st 2017
Boise, Idaho (KBOI) — It’s been more than two months since a fire ripped through a cabin near Tamarack Resort that killed four people, including two adults and two children.
On Thursday, the Idaho state fire marshal, Knute Sandahl, announced in a press conference that the fire started when one of the adults attempted to start a fire in a propane-fueled fireplace at the cabin.
A valve releasing the propane was opened, but when the person used a piece of paper to light the fire, the fireplace exploded. Investigators believe the valve was open for several minutes before the explosion.
Sandahl says that the fireplace had been converted to a wood-burning system at some point in the past, but the people who own the cabin now believed it was still set up for propane.
The conversion to a wood-burning system created a small empty area behind the new fireplace, and investigators believe that when the valve for propane was turned on, the gas filled the empty area, which contributed to explosion.
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Lightning starts fire that burns McCall home Monday
By Tom Grote for The Star-News September 21, 2017
A McCall home was heavily damaged on Monday when it was hit by lightning that started a fire, McCall Fire & EMS said.
The house at 155 Morgan Dr. in the River’s Crossing community was not occupied at the time of the fire and no one was injured, Chief Mark Billmire said. Damage was estimated at between $250,000 and $300,000.
Firefighters were called to the scene at about 3:11 p.m. after neighbors reported hearing and seeing lightning strike the home followed by smoke and flames, Billmire said.
Response was delayed because lightning knocked out the Valley County Dispatch radio repeater on No Business Mountain and communications had to be switched to an alternate repeater, he said.
Smoke and flames were spewing from all four sides of the two-story house when firefighters arrived, Billmire said.
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Historic 1915 courthouse in Adams County to be demolished
9/17/17 AP
Council, Idaho — A 1915 historic courthouse in Adams County is slated to be demolished after the abandoned building was condemned in the spring.
KTVB-TV reports that the Adams County commissioners on Friday sought bids for contractors to gut the more than 100-year-old courthouse that sits atop a hill in the town of Council.
Some residents don’t want to see it go. Danna Barnhart says it’s one of the oldest courthouses in the state.
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Heard those explosions in Blaine County? Don’t panic, sheriff says
KTVB September 20, 2017
(Photo: Courtesy of Idaho Power)
Blaine County — The Blaine County Sheriff’s Office says the sound of explosions have caused some consternation across the county lately.
But officials are reassuring residents they are not under siege.
Blame the loud booms on Idaho Power, which has been working to replace transmission lines between Hagerman and the Wood River Valley. Crews use explosives to splice the power lines together.
Jeff Lincoln, the principal engineer in Idaho Power’s transmission department, said the explosive devices are essentially a metal sleeve surrounded by detonation cord.
“The force of that explosion basically crimps that tube on the wire,” fusing it into one piece, Lincoln said.
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N. Idaho man rescued 2 days after car plunges down ravine
9/20/17 AP
Kamiah, Idaho — Authorities in northern Idaho say a man spent two days trapped in his vehicle after it plunged into a ravine.
The Idaho County Sheriff’s Office says 24-year-old Jacob Phillips of Kamiah appeared to have a broken leg when rescuers pulled from the car Sunday morning and flew him to a hospital in Lewiston.
Authorities say Phillips left work in Grangeville on Friday afternoon, and family members reported him missing later that day when he didn’t arrive home.
Searches along several possible routes failed to locate Phillips.
Wireless communications provider Inland Cellular narrowed the search area by pinging Phillips’ cellphone.
Searchers then located Phillips about 75 feet down a ravine off State Highway 162.
St. Joseph Regional Medical Center says Phillips was treated and transferred to another hospital that a spokeswoman on Wednesday declined to name.
source:
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After record breaking flu season, Dept. of Health and Welfare prepares for 2017-2018
by Devan Kaney Wednesday, September 20th 2017
Boise, Idaho (KBOI) — Last year was the deadliest flu season on record in Idaho with 72 influenza-related deaths.
“We certainly saw a record number of deaths last year, so certainly want people to be prepared,” said Dr. Leslie Tengelsen, Idaho’s State Influenza Surveillance Coordinator at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.
Idaho’s Department of Health and Welfare saw multiple strains of the virus in the 2016-2017 season.
“A combination of a million different viruses that circulate there can be up to four different flu viruses,” Tengelsen said. “In fact, we saw all four different flu viruses in Idaho and across the country last year.”
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Idaho opts into national public safety broadband network
Associated Press, KTVB September 20, 2017
Boise – Idaho has joined 20 other states in an interstate communications network that allows public safety agencies to communicate across jurisdictions during emergencies.
Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter announced this week that he signed a letter for Idaho to participate in the First Responder Network Authority, known as FirstNet.
FirstNet, in partnership with AT&T, will build, operate and maintain a secure wireless broadband communications network for Idaho’s public safety community at no cost to the state. It’s expected to boost broadband access in rural areas.
Otter says it’s in Idaho’s best interest to participate in the network.
FirstNet was created in 2012. It followed a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission that a dedicated nationwide broadband network be created to help public safety agencies communicate during large-scale emergencies.
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Aviation News:
Flying the Mail in Remote Idaho
Neither tight canyons, nor wildlife on runways…The postman’s creed is slightly different for pilots delivering mail in the mountains.
By Debbie Gary Air & Space Magazine October 2017
/https://public-media.smithsonianmag.com/filer/8f/e8/8fe805dc-6d18-493b-a12e-c821d9466907/12a_sep2017_badleyranchhillyrunway_live.jpg)
Ahead of the Cessna parked at Central Idaho’s Badley Ranch airstrip, the peaceful canyon doesn’t reflect the difficulty of takeoff and landing here. The strip climbs from a 10- to a 17-degree slope. (Debbie Gary)
When we approached the first mail stop, Ray Arnold rolled his Cessna 206 up on its left wing and spiraled down inside the narrow canyon that funnels Big Creek past Taylor Ranch. Bare ground the color of a cougar’s hide filled the front window. The airspeed was slow, the bank was steep, and my senses were on high alert: One bad turn and we could hit the mountain, or fall into the creek. But Arnold’s hand was steady and he rolled out just above the rushing water. Another turn revealed a smaller creek and the twisted grass strip of the University of Idaho’s Taylor Wilderness Research Station.
… To reach Taylor Ranch from Cascade, we flew 70 miles above central Idaho’s nine- and ten-thousand-foot peaks, snow-covered national forests, and fire-ravaged slopes. Arnold pointed out backcountry landing spots as we passed; some snowy white stripes in a sea of evergreens, others no more than dirt scratches on the face of bare hills.
Each time he indicated a landing site, he recounted a close call some pilot had experienced there: a ski plane upended in deep snow, a nosewheel grabbed by a gopher hole. But the mail must go through.
full story:
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McCall council lower rates for airport hangar leases
Current rates called high compared with other cities
By Phil Janquart for The Star-News September 21, 2017
The McCall City Council last week lowered the rates charged to owners of hangars to lease ground at the McCall Airport.
In a 4-1 vote, council members voted to lower the rate from 35 cents per square foot per year to 30 cents per square foot for the 79 non-commercial hangars at the airport.
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McCall Airport kiosk to help pathway users understand aviation
By Phil Janquart for The Star-News September 21, 2017
The City of McCall is hoping those who use the pathway near McCall Airport will soon have a better appreciation for the airport.
The airport manager, Jay Scherer, is heading an effort to build a pocket park on airport’s west side adjacent to the public pathway.
Once built, observers will be able to do more than watch aircraft take off and land. Plans include installing a scanner that picks up flight frequencies and signs that identify flight protocols and traffic patterns, as well as weather and navigational equipment on the ground.
“We want to get people interested and excited about aviation,” Scherer said. “We want people to come check us out. Maybe we can inspire some kids to get interested in aviation.”
The project has the support of the McCall chapter of the Idaho Aviation Association, chapter president-elect Rob Tucker said.
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Mining News:
Judge: Mining company in contempt for Idaho water pollution
Rebecca Boone Associated Press, KTVB September 18, 2017
Boise – A federal judge is holding the Atlanta Gold mining company in contempt of court for allowing arsenic and iron to enter a tributary of the Middle Fork of the Boise River.
Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Ronald Bush released the decision on Friday, ordering the company to pay up to half a million dollars in fines and penalties if they don’t fix the problems by next year.
The Idaho Conservation League and Northwest Environmental Defense Center sued Atlanta Gold Corporation in 2011, alleging the company was violating the federal Clean Water Act when it discharged water containing pollutants from a mining tunnel into Montezuma Creek. That case resulted in a 2012 order directing the mining company to fix the problems.
In the latest ruling, the judge said Atlanta Gold had made significant progress but still allowing too much pollution into the tributary.
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Fire Season:
Highline Fire Closure Rescinded
McCall, ID – The Payette National Forest has rescinded the Highline fire closure in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness effective immediately, allowing access to the trails, airstrips and area in and around Chamberlain Basin. “While the fire has moderated with the recent wet and cold fall weather, the fire still has a potential to flare up and there are risks associated with traveling in Wilderness that the public needs to understand and have awareness about,” said Anthony Botello, Krassel District Ranger. “Wilderness visitors are warned to take precautions around and under fire-weakened trees while traveling within the fire area,” Botello advises.
The Highline Fire was started by lightning on July 28 in one of the most remote areas of the Wilderness. With the exception of a handful of days, it burned mostly with low intensity and a slow rate of spread for the past 55 days and burned dead and downed vegetation, brush and some stands of trees in a natural, mosaic fashion in the Wilderness. Due to concerns for the safety of employees and visitors, the Payette issued multiple closures as the fire grew and moved.
Lightning ignited fires in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness are a natural part of the ecosystem and are managed to prevent impacts to and loss of buildings, private land, trail bridges, historic structures and other values at risk, but these natural fires are intentionally allowed to travel across the landscape in as natural a manner as possible.
Trail, airstrip and/or area closures are sometimes necessary to protect visitors from unpredictable fire intensity and spread, while allowing firefighters to take necessary actions. However, closures are also an impact to visitors to the National Forest and even more intrusive to visitors to Wilderness. Wilderness is managed with as few of controls over visitors as possible to maintain the untrammeled nature and primitive and unconfined recreation visitors seek. “We take closures in Wilderness very seriously. We go into them slowly and thoughtfully and come out of them as quickly as we can,” Botello said.
The Highline fire is not entirely out. Its spread has moderated and most areas of the fire are showing little to no heat. The short-term weather predictions are calling for cool and wet weather for the next few weeks with possible seasonal warming and drying by the first half of October. Visitors are encouraged to check with the Payette National Forest for current fire, trail and airstrip conditions and if possible stay out of the Highline fire area. Wilderness users are responsible for understanding their surroundings and taking precautions to avoid hazardous areas where fire has effected trees, soil, water or other features of a natural landscape.
For more information on Wilderness in the Payette National Forests, contact the Krassel Ranger District at 208-634-0600.
Brian Harris
Public Affairs Officer
Payette National Forest
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Firefighters pull out after wet weather cools Highline Fire
By Max Silverson for The Star-News September 21, 2017
The Highline Fire in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness has diminished significantly, prompting the Forest Service to lift area closures.
The Chamberlain airstrip and surrounding wilderness were opened to visitors Tuesday due to wet and cool weather.
The Highline Fire was started by lightning on July 28 and had burned almost 85,000 acres of wilderness by Tuesday.
The Forest Service was winding down its teams assigned to the fire this week. The National Incident Management Organization team that has been managing Highline Fire operations since Aug. 17 will give back control of the fire to the Payette National Forest today, Public Information Officer Mike Ferris said.
Firefighters on the ground at Big Creek, Beaver Creek and the privately owned Root Ranch have already been moved out, Ferris said.
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Bearskin Fire closure is modified to open County roads
Boise National Forest
Contact: Venetia Gempler (208) 373-4105
Boise, Idaho, September 22, 2017 – Changing weather conditions prompted Forest officials to modify the Bearskin closure to open up Valley County roads 555, 579, 563 and a section of Valley County road 582. All National Forest System trails and roads remain closed within the Bearskin Fire perimeter including NFS road 510.
NFS road 582 between the junctions of NFS roads 545 and 515 remain closed for culvert replacement. This work is expected to last into October.
Forest visitors are reminded to be cautious and aware of their surroundings. Trees burned in the fire may continue to smolder and fall. With warmer temperatures predicted in coming weeks, fire activity may increase. Crews will continue to patrol and monitor the fire.
To view this Forest Closure Orders and map visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/boise/alerts-notices
Scroll down to the Lowman Ranger District closures for Bearskin Area Closure Reduced – Version #5.
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Land Management Agencies lift Stage 1 Fire Restrictions in all zones of the Payette Fire Restriction Area
Date: September 19, 2017
McCall, Idaho – With much cooler temperatures and the abundance of precipitation in the past several days, land management agencies have lifted Stage 1 Fire Restrictions in the Little Salmon Zone of the Payette Fire Restriction Area effective Tuesday, September 19, 2017. Other Payette Restriction Area Zones lifted fire restrictions last Friday, September 15, 2017 and Wednesday, September 13, 2017. As such, fire restrictions are no longer in place within any zones of the Payette Fire Restriction Area. The Fire Restrictions are rescinded by agencies managing state, private and public lands in the area, including the United States Forest Service (USFS), Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association (SITPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL).
The restrictions were put into effect on August 11, 2017 when fire danger and burning conditions were unusually high. Recent storms have brought significant moisture with much cooler temperatures to the area, moderating fire conditions significantly. Forest visitors are reminded to always be careful with all use of fire in the outdoors. The accidental start of a wildfire can still be devastating. Be alert and be aware. Follow these tips to help prevent wildfire:
* NEVER leave a camp fire unattended
* Keep water, dirt and a shovel near your fire at all times
* Make sure your fire is dead out and cold to the touch before you leave it
* Use of fireworks, exploding targets or tracer rounds is prohibited on public lands
Fire restrictions may be lifted but burn bans may still be in place in some areas. Fire restrictions and burn bans address different types of activities. Burn bans pertain to controlled burning activities such as debris burning, slash burning, or agricultural burning, for which a fire safety burn permit from IDL is required. Visit http://burnpermits.idaho.gov/ for more information.
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Prescribed Fires on the Payette National Forest
Date: September 18, 2017
Contact: Brian Harris (208) 634-0784 cell: (208) 634-6945
McCall, Idaho – The Payette National Forest will be conducting multiple prescribed fires (broadcast and pile burning) this fall. Depending on weather conditions, prescribed fire could take place anytime from now through early November.
“Fire is one of the most important natural agents of change in our forested ecosystems,” said Keith Lannom, Payette National Forest Supervisor. “Prescribed fire plays a major role in our forest restoration efforts by reducing accumulated fuels, while promoting long-term ecosystem integrity and sustainability by reducing the risk to communities and wildlife habitat from high-severity wildland fire.”
The Council and Weiser Ranger Districts plans to apply fire 4,000 acres in Cookhouse Gulch, 2,000 acres in the Mill Creek drainage, 1,500 acres in Spring Creek, and 1,000 acres in the Weiser River Fuels project area.
The McCall and New Meadows Ranger Districts plans to burn 1,500 acres in the Lost Creek-Boulder Creek project area, 3,042 acres in Rapid River (east of Pollock Mountain), 525 acres in the Upper Weiser River drainage, 400 acres near Rock Flat, and 500 acres in Bear Basin.
The Krassel Ranger District plans to ignite 1,600 acres in the Fourmile drainage, and 2,000 acres in the Bald Hill project area.
Trail heads and roads that lead into these areas will be posted with caution signs and a map of the prescribed fire locations. Fire personnel will work closely with the Idaho/Montana Airshed Group, the National Weather Service, and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality to insure that smoke impacts are minimized. The decision to ignite on any given day will depend on favorable weather conditions and the need to reduce smoke effects as much as possible.
Smoke from these prescribed fires will be much less than what would be expected from a wildfire. If smoke concentrations approach air quality standards fire ignition may be delayed until air quality improves. Residual smoke may be visible for up to 2 weeks following ignition, but most of the smoke from the fires will dissipate 1-2 days after ignition.
These prescribed fires will reduce fuels near communities and improve current big game habitat by opening timber stands (maintaining the large tree component) and rejuvenating the herbaceous and browse component. In addition, birds and small mammals generally benefit from an increase in snags and/or coarse woody debris. Reducing accumulated fuels will not only increase available forage, but also promote long-term ecosystem integrity and sustainability by reducing the risk to habitat from high-severity wildland fire.
Smoke sensitive individuals may call Patrick Schon (McCall and New Meadows RDs; 347-0300), Justin Pappani (Krassel RD; 634-0600), or Phil Graeve (Council and Weiser RDs; 549-4200) with any concerns they may have about the planned prescribed fires. The public may also call the Ranger District for more information.
Prescribed fire is an important component of forest restoration and part of the comprehensive fire management program on the Payette National Forest. For more information, please call: Council RD: 253-0100; Krassel RD: 634-0974; McCall RD: 634-0400; New Meadows RD: 347-0300; Weiser RD: 549-4200
Brian Harris
Public Affairs Officer
Payette National Forest
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Idaho fire season wrapup: ‘Everybody is breathing a little easier now;’ costs covered
Betsy Z. Russell The Spokesman-Review Sept 19, 2017
Although the fire season seemed downright awful, with heavy smoke choking much of the state, Idaho is coming out of it without any pressing bills. That’s because the state Legislature pre-funded its wildland firefighting costs two years ago with a $60 million appropriation. This year’s firefighting expenditures, on lands for which the state is responsible for fire protection, came to just over $21 million, with $5 million reimbursable from other agencies or owners; that’s a net obligation, as of now, of $16.3 million.
Going into the fire season, Idaho had a $48.4 million cash balance from the legislative appropriation two years ago. Now, combining the $16.3 million in this year’s costs with additional outstanding bills from previous years, the state’s net obligation is about $34 million. So after all those bills are paid, Idaho still will have $14 million in its firefighting account.
State Forester David Groeschl shared that news with the state Land Board this morning, and offered a wrapup of this year’s fire season. The number of fires on state-protected land was 62 percent of the 20-year average, but the number of acres burned was 440 percent of the 20-year average. That was largely because of the big Craig Mountain Complex south of Lewiston, which burned almost 50,000 – accounting for most of the 52,700 acres that burned.
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Humans caused nearly half of fires in Idaho Panhandle
Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review Sept 19, 2017
A sigh of relief came from fire fighters through the cool damp air on Monday. The rain enabled agencies responsible for managing lands and providing wildland fire protection in the Coeur d’Alene Dispatch area to lift fire restrictions for the Idaho Panhandle.
… Of the wildfires recorded by the Idaho Panhandle National Forests’ Coeur d’Alene Dispatch area this season:
* 39 were caused by lightning, burning 3,997 acres so far, officials reported Friday.
* 32 were caused by human activity, burning 1,832 acres.
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Crapo, Wyden, Bipartisan Senators to Congress: Permanent Wildfire Funding Fix Must Be a Top Priority
September 20, 2017
Washington, D.C. – In the wake of historic wildfires in Oregon, Idaho, California, Washington and across the West, U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Jim Risch, R-Idaho, Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Cory Gardner, R-Colo., and Michael Bennet, D-Colo., introduced an updated version of their bipartisan wildfire funding solution that would protect desperately needed funding for fire prevention and treat wildfires as the natural disasters they are.
The Wildfire Disaster Funding Act of 2017 would end the destructive cycle of borrowing from fire prevention accounts to put out fires and stop the erosion of the Forest Service’s budget by reforming the way the federal government funds wildfires.
“Oregonians and westerners are battling another record-breaking fire year. The threat of catastrophic wildfires is growing, yet the federal government continues to conduct ‘business as usual’ when it comes to fighting fires in Oregon and the West,” Wyden said. “More communities are put in danger and fire prevention work gets left undone because of a backwards fire budgeting system. It’s past time for Congress to make it a top priority to end fire borrowing, stop the erosion of the Forest Service becoming the ‘Fire Service’ and start treating wildfires like the natural disasters they are.”
“If you live in a community in the western United States, you do not need to be told that wildfires are major natural disasters,” Crapo said. “With over eight million acres burned, ten states choked with smoke, and lives and structures lost, this year’s fire season is a brutal reminder that we must start treating mega fires as the disasters that they are. Now is the time to both recognize that fires are major disasters and end the destructive cycle of fire borrowing that only makes the fire situation in this country worse.”
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Public Lands:
Two Forest Roads will Close Temporarily for Road Repair in the West Branch Area near New Meadows
9/19/2017
Contact: New Meadows District Office at 208-347-0300
New Meadows, Idaho- The Payette National Forest will be enacting two temporary road closures to provide for public safety during road repair work that is scheduled to begin soon. Both roads are located in the West Branch area and accessed from Price Valley Road.
NFS Road 991 will be closed starting on Monday, September 25th and NFS Road 102 will be closed past milepost 1 a short time later, estimated to be October 2nd. Each road will be closed for up to 10 days to allow for the Contractor to complete the road repair work, which is focused on culvert work. NFS Road 101 will still be accessible during the closures.
Forest users should find alternative routes during these closures. Forest Closure Orders have been issued for both roads and the maps are attached below.
West Branch Weiser NFS Road #102 Thru Traffic Closure
NFS Road #991 Thru Traffic Closure
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‘Good Neighbor Authority’ brings IDL a new mission: More active management of fed forests
Betsy Z. Russell The Spokesman-Review Sept 19, 2017
Idaho has been seeing success with using the “Good Neighbor Authority” it was granted under the 2014 federal Farm Bill to partner with the U.S. Forest Service and increase active management and timber harvests on national forests in the state – and it’s poised to ramp the program up. “Right now we have two foresters doing GNA projects across the state, so we’re looking to significantly expand this program,” state Department of Lands Director Tom Schultz told the state Land Board today.
In the department’s budget request for next year, it’s asking for eight new positions, all from dedicated funds. That would allow the department to create a new GNA Bureau within its Forestry & Fire Division, and up the staffing for GNA programs from the current 4.3 positions to 12.3.
Two Forest Service officials touted the success of the program to the Land Board on Tuesday. “How we accomplish the work is evolving,” Nora Rasure, USFS regional forester for the Intermountain Region, told the board, “and I think that’s what’s exciting – that we can find new and different ways to get that work done.”
She said through the use of GNA and forest collaboratives, state and federal agencies are bringing their efforts together. “Working with each other to kind of pull and push each other forward, I think we’ve come up with some creative ways for doing the work,” she said.
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Forest Service, Idaho work to boost logging on federal land
By Keith Ridler – 9/22/17 AP
Boise, Idaho — The U.S. Forest Service and Idaho have forged 10 agreements for logging and restoration projects on federal land in what officials say could become a template for other Western states to create jobs and reduce the severity of wildfires.
Under the deals, Idaho foresters will administer timber sales on about 10,000 acres (40 square kilometers) the federal agency has on its to-do list but can’t complete because the money for the work is instead going to fight wildfires.
So far this year, the cost of that fight has surpassed $2 billion — more than half the federal agency’s annual budget — during one of the worst fire seasons on record in the West.
The state work involves managing timber sales to a lumber company after determining how much is available and sometimes even marking what can and can’t be cut.
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USFS Regional Intermountain News
9/20/2017
Archived Newsletters
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Critter News:
Pet Talk – What Is Parvo?
By Dr. Karsten Fostvedt – IME September 22, 2017
Parvo is a gastrointestinal disease causing severe vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. It is caused by a very contagious virus called canine parvovirus. CPV is very concentrated in the diarrhea of infected animals. It is resistant to many disinfectants and can persist in the environment under a variety of conditions. It can be destroyed by cleaning contaminated surfaces with a 1:20 bleach solution—one part household bleach with 20 parts water. The best prevention of parvo disease is vaccinating your pets as puppies and then every three years. Treatment is expensive and not always successful. Vaccination is very inexpensive and an excellent prevention of the disease.
The primary signs of parvo disease are poor appetite, lethargy, vomiting and diarrhea. Vomiting is often severe and diarrhea may be profuse and bloody. There is often a fever and dogs quickly become dehydrated. Secondary septicemia is common, along with shock and collapse.
Because of the severity of clinical signs in parvo disease, a number of tests are required to treat your pet effectively. Some of the tests include a complete blood count, a serum biochemistry profile, X-rays of the abdomen and stool exams to confirm the parvovirus. These tests can also show other intestinal parasites that may be complicating the disease.
Dogs with parvo disease need to be isolated from other dogs because of how contagious the virus is. Hospitalized dogs are often quarantined in an isolation ward to decrease spread of disease.
Treatment of parvo is largely supportive, as there are no antiviral drugs to kill the parvo virus. These supportive measures include intravenous drugs and electrolytes, antibiotics to suppress secondary bacterial infections, drugs to suppress the severe vomiting and sometimes blood or plasma transfusions if blood or protein loss is severe. Treatment for parvo can often take five to seven days of intense hospitalization. Dogs that survive the first two to four days of treatment are most likely to recover fully. Around 10 percent of dogs will die from this severe gastrointestinal viral disease, more if not treated aggressively by your veterinarian.
Parvo disease is horrible—just ask any veterinarian or veterinarian nurse. Whenever we see parvo, it is so sad because it is so preventable by simple vaccinations.
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MCPAWS to sponsor Brundage fun run, Oktoberfest Oct. 7
The Star-News September 21, 2017
MCPAWS Regional Animal Shelter will host a full day of fun with a dog-friendly 5km fun run followed by Oktoberfest on Saturday, Oct. 7.
The Tails on Trails fun run will begin at 9 a.m. Oct. 7 at Brundage Mountain Resort. Registration is $35 for adults and $25 for youth under age 21.
The race fee includes a Tails on Trails hat, goodie bag and registration for Oktoberfest. Registration is available online at http://mcpaws.org.
Oktoberfest festivities will begin at noon at Alpine Village, 616 N. Third St. The event will include live music by Bottom Line Band and the Treasure Valley Musik Meisters as well as a costume contest, raffle, craft goods, activities for kids and food and drinks.
Entry for Oktoberfest is $10 and includes a beer and an event koozie. Raffle tickets will be sold for $5 each at the event. For more information, visit http://mcpaws.org
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Snowdon Wildlife Sanctuary plans open house Sept. 30
The Star-News September 21, 2017
Snowdon Wildlife Sanctuary near McCall will host it’s annual open house from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30.
The open house is the only time during the year the public can tour the grounds and see wildlife displays and demonstrations.
Those attending are urged to bring a picnic lunch and perhaps see kokanee salmon on their migration in Lake Fork Creek.
Snowdon is located seven miles out Lick Creek Road east of McCall at end of the pavement
Snowdon’s mission is to rehabilitate and return injured and orphaned wildlife to the wild, and provide hands-on education to promote a healthy coexistence with wildlife and the ecosystem.
Snowdon specializes in the rehabilitation of local wildlife, including orphaned baby birds and mammals and injured small mammals, songbirds, waterfowl, and raptors.
The 35-acre sanctuary has a number of animal pens and enclosures, and a clinic equipped to care for ill and injured birds and animals.
Go to http://snowdonwildlife.org for more information
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Idaho considers wildlife overpasses near Montana border
9/19/17 AP
Idaho Falls, Idaho — The Idaho Transportation Department is considering the construction of overpasses that would provide safe crossings for wildlife over a stretch of U.S. Highway 20 near the state’s border with Montana.
The wildlife overpasses are in two of the four options the department has outlined for how it would use the $22 million slated to improve the 4-mile stretch of highway near Island Park, the Post Register reported on Monday.
The most comprehensive option calls for the construction of three wildlife overpasses with fencing along the roadway that would funnel animals into using the crossings.
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Washington kills three wolves this season to quell cattle attacks
Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review Sept 21, 2017
Wolves have kept Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife field staff busy this summer, especially in Stevens, Ferry and Asotin counties.
Gray wolves are protected in Washington by state endangered species rules, but lethal measures can be taken in cases of self-defense or repeated attacks on livestock.
At least six wolf attacks on livestock have been confirmed this season despite prevention efforts including range riders. Cattle depredations have been confirmed in Stevens and Ferry counties this summer as well as in Asotin County, where a cow and calf were attacked this month southeast of Cloverland by the Tucannon Pack.
Two wolves from the Smackout Pack and one wolf from the Sherman Pack have been killed by state-authorized shooters in response to separate incidents. In both cases, no further cattle attacks in those pack areas have been confirmed.
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Wolf Education International
Third week September 2017
Wolves in Israel are raiding campsites to try to snatch children, experts warn
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Grizzly bears roaming more new areas of Wyoming
AP Sep 22, 2017
Cheyenne, Wyo. (AP) – Wyoming is seeing more grizzly bears moving outside their established habitat in and around Yellowstone National Park, causing more conflicts with humans.
Dan Thompson of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department says as the bears extend their range it becomes more difficult to avoid conflicts between bears and humans.
In 2016, Wyoming recorded 223 cases of conflicts between grizzly bears and humans – by far the highest number among the three states in the Yellowstone ecosystem. Montana had 118, and Idaho just two last year.
Wildlife advocates say grizzlies should be able to roam suitable forest and public land areas surrounding their current habitat.
Federal protection of the bears was lifted earlier this year and management of the species was turned over to Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
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10 calves killed by grizzlies in central Montana
9/23/17 AP
Kalispell, Mont. — Wildlife officials say grizzly bears have killed ten calves on a central Montana ranch.
The Daily Inter Lake reported that the dead animals were found recently in a creek bottom on a ranch near Dupuyer in Teton County.
Wildlife officials say at least 12 grizzlies have been present in the area. It’s uncertain which were responsible for attacking the calves.
The owner of the calves will be eligible for compensation from the livestock loss fund.
Grizzly bears have been spreading into agricultural areas and encountering conflicts with humans along central Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front as they population continues to recover from widespread extermination last century.
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Officials to decide fate of peninsula mountain goats
By Evan Bush – 9/23/17 AP
Seattle — In 2010, a mountain goat in Olympic National Park gored a 63-year-old hiker and severed an artery. Then the goat stood over the bleeding man and prevented rescuers from tending to the injury. It proved fatal.
The tragic, rare goat attack helped rekindle a dormant battle over the peninsula’s mountain goats.
In the 1980s and ’90s, park officials waged campaigns to remove or eradicate the nonnative creatures, said to be destroying plant life within the park.
Those efforts stalled, and now the National Park Service is taking another swing. This summer, it published four plans for goat management. Park officials favor capturing as many mountain goats as possible over several years, transporting them to the North Cascades and killing goats that evade seizure.
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Man pleads guilty to Boise Foothills chukar poaching, woman has arrest warrant
by KBOI News Staff Tuesday, September 19th 2017
Idaho Fish and Game posted the photo of the hunting duo on social media to help track down the pair. (Courtesy Idaho Fish and Game)
Boise, Idaho (KBOI) — One of two people who were spotted on a trail camera earlier this year illegally hunting chukar in the Boise Foothills has pleaded guilty.
According to Idaho court records, Dustin Dill, pleaded guilty on Monday in Ada County District court to two misdemeanors (violating Fish and Game rules and hunting without a license). He was sentenced to a year of probation and will be unable to hunt, fish or trap for two years.
Idaho Fish and Game told KBOI 2News that the other person seen on the trail cam, Shanelle Choumas, was charged earlier this year. According to Idaho court records, she currently has an arrest warrant from a separate case from 2016 for permitting animals to go without care.
Idaho Fish and Game posted the photo of the hunting duo on social media to help track down the pair after it says they were hunting chukar on the Boise River Wildlife Management area March 18, which was 46 days after the hunting season had closed.
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Owls in the Outhouse: Opening the Bathroom Door on a Foul Bird Issue
By Kris Millgate September 18, 2017
Long-eared Owl rescued from vault toilet. Photo courtesy Bureau of Land Management
Visiting a public lands outhouse is not always a pleasant experience for humans. It’s even less so for birds. Yes, birds. Here’s why there’s an owl in the toilet – and what we can do about it.
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Surplus hatchery salmon released into northern Idaho creek
9/23/17 AP
Lewiston, Idaho — More than 100 spring chinook salmon not needed at a northern Idaho fish hatchery have been released into a creek to spawn naturally.
Workers with Dworshak National Fish Hatchery released the fish Wednesday into Lolo Creek, The Lewiston Tribune reported.
Extra spring chinook returned to the hatchery this year, so the fish are surplus, fisheries biologist Tom Tighe said. Workers released the fish in an area with proven spawning gravel just upstream from where Lolo Creek joins the Clearwater River, he said.
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Warm waters off West Coast has lingering effects for salmon
By Phuong Le – 9/17/17 AP
Seattle — The mass of warm water known as “the blob” that heated up the North Pacific Ocean has dissipated, but scientists are still seeing the lingering effects of those unusually warm sea surface temperatures on Pacific Northwest salmon and steelhead.
Federal research surveys this summer caught among the lowest numbers of juvenile coho and Chinook salmon in 20 years, suggesting that many fish did not survive their first months at sea. Scientists warn that salmon fisheries may face hard times in the next few years.
Fisheries managers also worry about below average runs of steelhead returning to the Columbia River now. Returns of adult steelhead that went to sea as juveniles a year ago so far rank among the lowest in 50 years.
Scientists believe poor ocean conditions are likely to blame: Cold-water salmon and steelhead are confronting an ocean ecosystem that has been shaken up in recent years.
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The Columbia Basin Bulletin
Weekly Fish and Wildlife News
http://www.cbbulletin.com
September 22, 2017
Issue No. 844
Table of Contents
* Gorge Fire Aftermath – Rains, Debris Flows—Prompts Trucking Of Two Million Juvenile Fish From Oregon Hatchery
http://www.cbbulletin.com/439608.aspx
* Council Gets Update On Assessing Hatchery Stock, Habitat For Potential Salmonid Reintroduction Above Grand Coulee
http://www.cbbulletin.com/439607.aspx
* NOAA Climate Center Pegs La Nina At 55-60 Percent For Coming Months; Could Mean Colder, Wetter Than Average
http://www.cbbulletin.com/439606.aspx
* Updated Salmon Returns Show Below Average; Harvest Managers Set Commercial, Tribal Fishing Times
http://www.cbbulletin.com/439605.aspx
* Agencies Announce Caught Night Poachers Gillnetting Salmon At Mouth Of Deschutes River
http://www.cbbulletin.com/439604.aspx
* New Corps Contract Moves Willamette Trout Production From McKenzie River Hatchery To Trout Farm In Summer Lake
http://www.cbbulletin.com/439603.aspx
* Escaped Atlantic Salmon Continue To Be Caught; WDFW Report Says Fish Not Expected To Establish Themselves
http://www.cbbulletin.com/439602.aspx
* Biologists Tell Council That Sea Lion Predation Puts Willamette Winter Steelhead At 89 Percent Chance Of Extinction
http://www.cbbulletin.com/439601.aspx
* Estuary Cormorants Nesting In Low Numbers; Corps Unsure If Culling Will Resume Before Season Ends
http://www.cbbulletin.com/439600.aspx
* Upper Columbia White Sturgeon Recovery Efforts Now Producing Enough Fish For Tribal, Non-Tribal Fisheries
http://www.cbbulletin.com/439599.aspx
* NOAA Fisheries Finalizes Recovery Plan For ESA-Listed Eulachon (Smelt); Includes Columbia Estuary
http://www.cbbulletin.com/439598.aspx
* Groups Amend Complaint In Wild Upper Willamette Winter Steelhead Litigation
http://www.cbbulletin.com/439597.aspx
* Judge Extends Stay In Deschutes River Lawsuit As Parties Pursue Settlement, Possible Mediator
http://www.cbbulletin.com/439596.aspx
* Corps Ends Summer Ops At Dworshak While Managers Note Continued Low Steelhead Passage In Lower Snake
http://www.cbbulletin.com/439595.aspx
* Fall Creek Dam (Mid-Willamette) Gets New Fish Collection Facility To Meet BiOp Requirements
http://www.cbbulletin.com/439594.aspx
* Council Science Advisory Panel Issues Evaluation Of Idaho Wildlife Mitigation Projects
http://www.cbbulletin.com/439593.aspx
* USGS Scientists To Release Red Dye In Idaho’s Kootenai River To Study Where, How Fast Larval Sturgeon, Burbot Move
http://www.cbbulletin.com/439592.aspx
* Idaho Fish And Game Director Moore Elected President Of National Fish And Wildlife Organization
http://www.cbbulletin.com/439591.aspx
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Monarch butterflies might vanish from northwest summers
By Annette Cary – 9/23/17 AP
Kennewick, Wash. — Children in the northwest might not see the fluttering orange and black wings of a Monarch butterfly on a summer day a few decades from now.
A study published recently in the journal Biological Conservation documents the steep decline of the population of migrating monarchs in the West.
“This study doesn’t just show that there are fewer monarchs now than 35 years ago,” said Cheryl Schultz, an associate professor at Washington State University Vancouver and lead author of the study.
“It also tells us that, if things stay the same, western monarchs probably won’t be around as we know them in another 35 years,” she said.
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Fish & Game News:
Highline Fire Closure Area Reduced in Middle Fork Elk Zone
By Evin Oneale, Regional Conservation Educator
Friday, September 15, 2017
A large portion of the Middle Fork Elk Zone has reopened thanks to cooler temperatures and slower fire growth of the Highline and Goat Fires burning within the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area. The new closure area and other fire updates can be viewed at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5500/ or https://idfg.idaho.gov/fire.
The updated closure impacts only 17 percent of the Middle Fork Elk Zone, where the season opens today (September 15).
The Big Creek Trail #196 and everything south of the trail is now available to hunters. Several backcountry airstrips are also operational including Cold Meadows, Cabin Creek and Soldier Bar.
While the previous closure affected 52 percent of Unit 26, now only 19 percent of the unit is closed. Nearly half of unit 20A remains closed as fire activity is primarily within that unit.
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Cooler temps draw big game, create challenges for hunters
By Andrew Weeks for The Star-News Sept 21, 2017
Deer and elk seasons are off to a slow start in the McCall area, but that likely will change as the temperatures dip, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game said.
Hunters currently are afield on a couple of hunts: archery season, which opened Aug. 30 and runs through Sept. 30; and any-season deer and elk hunts, which recently opened in some backcountry units
“The start of the season has been slow, mostly because of the hot, dry weather,” said Regan Berkley, regional F&G wildlife biologist in the agency’s McCall office. “I’m guessing the cooler, wetter weather pattern we’re about to see will change that and things will pick up.”
That’s good news for hunters anticipating the general season opener in early October. A drop in temperatures could, however, bring new challenges to hunters.
“Cooler weather will be much better,” said McCall F&G Conservation Officer Marshall Haynes said. “But this week’s extreme drop in temps, and rain and snow, might not make it real easy on the hunters.”
But elk like the weather, Haynes said. “The elk rut usually peaks in mid to late September and should be good with the change in weather,” he said.
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Make the call to catch poachers
By Mike Demick, Conservation Information Supervisor
Monday, September 18, 2017
With many hunting seasons in progress or about to begin, the Idaho Fish and Game is asking the public to call the Citizens Against Poaching (CAP) hotline if they witness a violation of fish and game laws.
“Calls from concerned citizens are instrumental in catching poachers stealing from Idaho’s citizens,” said Chris Wright, Fish and Game assistant enforcement bureau chief.
Callers to CAP hotline, 1-800-632-5999, can report wildlife law violations anonymously, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Cash rewards are available to callers who provide information leading to the citation of suspected wildlife law violators.
During the 35 year history, CAP has been an important link to catching poachers. Each year, CAP receives an average of 600 calls from the public, which results in 150 citations issued and $20,000 paid in rewards.
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F&G News Releases
https://idfg.idaho.gov/press
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Fun Critter Stuff:
New Hampshire llama helps protect ducks from wild bear
by WGME Wednesday, August 16th 2017
The llama’s name is Noir for its black fleece, and Wednesday was not his first escape. (Jackson Police Department)
Jackson, NH (WGME) – Golfers in Jackson, New Hampshire were surprised when a llama showed up on the sixth hole at Eagle Mountain Golf Course.
The llama’s name is Noir for its black fleece, and Wednesday was not his first escape.
Apparently, llamas are very protective, and Noir has become attached to a family of ducks.
Recently, a bear has been sniffing around the ducks and their eggs looking for a snack.
So Noir has been jumping into action, escaping his paddock to chase the bear off.
Noir the llama is back home on the farm, but not before starring in a few selfies.
Noir’s owners are working to raise the llama’s electric fence, and are going to reach out to state biologists to help with their bear problem.
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Seasonal Humor:
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The Yellow Pine Times 