April 1, 2018 The Yellow Pine Times – Valley County, Idaho
Village News:
Easter
April 1st, the Easter Potluck at The Corner at 2pm.
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Yellow Pine and Payette Forest Service Meeting March 23, 2018 at 1PM
Location Community Hall Yellow Pine, Idaho
Representatives of Forest Service were Anthony Botello, Justin Popani and presentation was by Laurel Ingram, Krassel field Tech. Yellow Pine was represented by 14 residents.
Meeting was pertaining to the 2009 Bald Hill NEPA project of proscribed burns to reduce the fuel load around Yellow Pine area. The project covers 5-27 years. Three of the burns have already been done in 2011, 2014 and 2015. This year’s burn covers the area above the Abstein division taking in Quartz Creek and Boulder Creek.
Timing is targeted for April or May depending on moisture content of fuels and weather. Yellow Pine Times will post the actual date. Maps are posted at the Post Office and Tavern, also the dates will be posted there. There will be aerial ignition by helicopter and on the ground by drip torch. Burning is slated for 1-3 days 1300 acres will be covered, some of the areas are rock cliffs and unburnable. Actually, only about 60 per cent will be having fire the rest is buffer.
Concern was voiced by residents about Boulder Creek which is our water supply. Laurel indicated a buffer will be in effect of 300 feet from the Creek. Hoses and sprinklers will be in place. A hand crew will form a break in the ground fuel along the border with private property. A wet duff layer will be in place which is why the burn is done in the Spring, and the area soaked by the sprinklers ahead of time. The fire will be held out of the drainage.
A hand crew of at least 15 will be on the border of Abstein division and a fire engine. Contingency resources will be on scene as needed. Temporaries will be coming on board in April to cover it. Depending on the conditions 20-50 fire fighters could be on the ground. They should be self-sufficient but the F.S. will talk to our fire chief before the burn.
Land owners in the edge of the burn will be contacted if the fire engine will need to use the roads. Those folks with breathing issues may want to be out of town during the burn. Give Laurel your contact information and she will notify you of the burn dates personally. Or any issues or questions please contact Laurel.
Laurel Ingram
lenelson@flfed.us
208 634-0622
Submitted by:
Lorinne N. Munn
Secretary Yellow Pine Association
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Note: See map below. It is the area inside the red line north east of the village (not all of the pink). The description of the area (from the original email) is:
“We are planning on burning the block of the Bald Hill Project that is directly to the north of Yellow Pine this spring. This block starts to the west of Boulder creek and ends on the ridge past Quartz creek. It comes down to the FS boundary on the south near Yellow Pine and this time of year we will most likely be using snow as the northern boundary.”
Map link:
(click on image for larger size)
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Spring Sightings
[March 29] “I saw robins on the South Fork last week and today they’re here claiming territory. An owl hooted this morning from the hillside below Golden Gate hill and I spotted a rufous-sided towhee just a few minutes ago. At the rate the nuthatches and juncos are eating black sunflower seeds they should be the size of robins by summer. The suet feeder has lots of “Camp Robbers”, Stellar jays, juncos and nuthatches. No sign of buttercups or violets yet. So far this is a great transition into Spring with no flooding of the roadside ditches.” – LI
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Transfer Station
A report March 24 that the dumpsters had been emptied recently. Easy to get in and out in 2 wheel drive. However, the road from Yellow Pine to the dump is rutty, slushy and rough.
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Long Island Iced Tea Party
Saturday, April 21st at 3pm, Filler’s front yard. Join us as we celebrate 10 years in Yellow Pine! Everyone is invited. Snacks are welcome.
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Blow-down Update
The Cascade Ranger District (BNF) is responsible for burning the slash piles from the blow-down cleanup. Last word is they will be burning either this spring or late fall. Will update when more info becomes available.
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Yellow Pine Tavern
Watch all of your favorite sports on our Big Screen TV at the Yellow Pine Tavern. Open 9am to 8pm (or later on game nights.) Jukebox is up and going.
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The Corner
The Corner is open for Breakfast and Dinner with prior arrangements. Typically breakfast is served between 5 and 6 am with dinner between 6 and 7 pm. The Corner Store is open as well, just call for grocery needs, fresh produce, eggs, meat etc.
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Winter Water Advice
It may feel like spring but the ground is still frozen down deep. To help prevent frozen water, avoid parking over buried water lines, allow the natural snow cover to insulate the ground. Driving over the lines will also push the frost deeper and can result in frozen pipes. Also, don’t plow the snow over where water lines are buried, and avoid covering up water shut off valves.
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Be Predator Aware
Bears will be coming out of hibernation soon. No recent reports of coyotes, foxes, raccoons, bobcats or cougars hanging around. The elk are close to homes, so wolves might be around. Please don’t leave pet food outdoors.
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2018 Fest
Next H-Fest Meeting April 19th
The 2018 festival T-shirt contest is now open! All entries must include the year (2018) and the festival name “Yellow Pine Festival” in the design Entries must be received by Friday, May 18th, 2018. The prize for the winning design is $100! Multiple designs by the same artist can be sent in.
Hint: these shirts are screen prints, simpler designs stand out better. Submit your entry by email to Marj Fields at fieldsmarjie @ yahoo.com
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YPFD News:
Fire Safety Tips for Winter/Spring
Keep your chimney clean to prevent flue fires, YPFD chimney brushes are available for local use, check with Cecil to borrow them. Make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detector is working. Never leave a portable electric heater unattended. Fire extinguishers should be charged, visible and easily accessible.
There are YPFD T-shirts, as well as YPFD patches and stickers for sale at the Tavern now.
Training and fire siren testing will resume in the spring.
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VYPA News:
Next meeting June 2018
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Winter/Spring Propane Tips
Keep the snow cleared around propane lines and pipes leading from your tank to the house. The weight of snow sliding off roofs can cause leaks that can result in fire. Make sure you have a CO detector with working batteries.
Amerigas Phone: (208) 634-8181
Ed Staub & Sons Phone: (208) 634-3833
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Diamond (Kennedy) Fuel & Feed
We carry most varieties of Diamond Brand Dog Food. We even have a new line by Diamond called Professional Plus which is a grain-free formula. It is only $29.99 per bag. We have FREE samples in the office if anyone is in the area they can swing by and pick up several samples. They make great day trip servings too when on the go. 208-382-4430
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Follow The Yellow Pine Times on Facebook (updated more often than emails)
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Local Observations:
Monday (Mar 26) overnight low of 19 degrees, partly cloudy this morning, about 8″ of old crusty snow on the flat, bare ground under trees and near buildings, rocks, etc. Heard a red-winged blackbird and a few steller jays calling, chickadees and red-breasted nuthatches visiting. High haze and puffy clouds gave us filtered sunshine early afternoon, high of 43 degrees. Pileated woodpecker and clarks nutcrackers calling from the forest, a female hairy woodpecker and a red-shafted northern flicker stopped by, also the resident pine squirrel visited. Partly cloudy at sunset. Elk on the golf course at dusk and a robin calling in the distance.
Tuesday (Mar 27) overcast this morning, about 8″ of crusty old snow on the flat, large open areas under the trees. Several clarks nutcrackers calling, female hairy woodpecker, chickadees and red-breasted nuthatches visiting. Cloudy quiet day, light breezes and snow melting, high of 50 degrees. Evening sprinkles of rain, just enough to dampen the roof. Breaks in the clouds and fat moon around 9pm. Short burst of hail at 315am.
Wednesday (Mar 28) overnight low of 31 degrees, partly cloudy this morning, a few hailstones on the ground, average of 7″ of old snow on the flat (larger open areas around buildings and under trees.) Fresh elk tracks down the side of the road. A few clarks nutcrackers calling, lots of juncos, a stellar jay, red-breasted nuthatches and a few chickadees visiting. By early afternoon the sky was almost clear, warm and sunny (and quite breezy), high of 52 degrees. High thin clouds came in late afternoon, then clearing by sundown. Elk coming up from the river and robins chirping just before dark. High thin clouds after dark, fuzzy fat lop-sided moon above Golden Gate.
Thursday (Mar 29) overnight low of 24 degrees, mostly clear sky this morning w/warm sunshine, light breezes. Snow depth ranges from 0″ to 12″ on the flat (average 6″) lots more bare ground on local streets. Red-breasted nuthatches at the feeders. Later a stellar jay stopped by to sample the sunflower seeds. Warm day, mostly cloudy afternoon, lots more open ground in the forest (there are less birds coming our feeders), high of 53 degrees. Heard a couple robins at dusk. Got a report of a rufous-sided towhee sighting, and an owl hooting this morning to the east.
Friday (Mar 30) overnight low of 28 degrees, overcast this morning. Lots more open ground, patches of “green” snow, average 5″ old snow remaining in the open. Robins calling this morning, a stellar jay and only one red-breasted nuthatch. Cloudy quiet morning. A rather large flock of clarks nutcrackers out in the forest early afternoon. Warm and cloudy, filtered sun melting snow, high of 56 degrees. Small buds growing on the lilac bush, moss is greening up where it is bare. Robins calling at dusk. Fat hazy moon shining just above the ridge at 930pm.
Saturday (Mar 31) overnight low of 26 degrees, mostly high thin clouds this morning. Even more open ground, 4″ of old snow (average) where it remains. Heard a woodpecker drumming, a few red-breasted nuthatches and a robin calling, female hairy woodpecker visiting. Only a few juncos still around and not many chickadees. Overcast by early afternoon, light breezes, high of 55 degrees. No wildflowers emerging yet, mosses are greening up. More robins showing up this afternoon, calling at dusk. Thin clouds and fuzzy “blue” moon after midnight.
Sunday (Apr 1) overnight low of 24 degrees, mostly clear sky and warm sun this morning. A lot of snow went away yesterday, 0-6″ of old snow, lots of bare ground. Heard a pileated woodpecker, a red-shafted northern flicker flew by, robins calling, a few red-breasted nuthatches and a chickadee visiting, steller jays calling. Blustery breezes and cloudy before lunch time. A lot more snow melted today, the local streets are pretty much bare too, high of 53 degrees. The local pine squirrel stopped by. Late afternoon thicker clouds, blustery and feels like it will rain soon.
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RIP:
Jerimy Slade (Boo) Edde Cowger
On March 17, 2018, Jerimy left this world to be with our heavenly Father.
He was born on Oct. 31, 1992, to Jerry and Kristina Cowger in Nampa.
At the time of his death he worked for Sunroc Construction – A Clye Company as the foreman of a rock crusher. He loved his job.
He loved life and was a friend to all he met. He loved riding his dirt bike, camping with his friends, fishing with his kids and just spending time with all of us.
He always had a smile on his face and a good word for everyone. He had the most wonderful laugh and we will miss it so much. He was always joking and so light-hearted.
He touched so many lives in a lot of different ways and always was such a loyal friend.
He was the best husband, father, and son we could ask for, his love for his family and friends never wavered.
He will continue to live every day through his wife Alisha Cowger of Eagle, his three sons Ryder, Cross, and Jaxson Peterson and his daughter Emalynn Cowger of Eagle.
He is also survived by his mother Kristina Cowger of Cascade, his sister Tonya Holcomb (Matt) of Jacksonville, Fla., his brother Chris Cowger (Pavline) of Melba, and too many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and friends to mention.
He is proceeded in death by his father, Jerry Cowger, two brothers Jerry Lee Cowger, Eddie Cowger, his maternal grandparents Raymond and Pat Edde, and paternal grandparents Richard Cowger and Wanda Cowger Kusmachef.
He was loved. So, so loved.
The Memorial Service for Jerimy will be April 7 at 2 p.m. at The Legion Hall in Cascade with a potluck afterwards.
source: The Star-News
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Idaho News:
Congress approves county funds for two years
Valley County roads to get $1 million in reprieve
By Tom Grote for The Star-News March 29, 2018
Valley County will get a $2 million boost for its road maintenance and construction following a one-time renewal of federal funding by Congress.
The money was part of an omnibus bill passed by Congress last Friday that changes the way the U.S. Forest Service is funded for fighting wildfires.
Tucked into the omnibus bill was a two-year extension of the Secure Rural Schools program, which will provide rural counties approximately $200 million per year.
The passage comes as welcome news for the Valley County Road Department, which had received at least $1 million per year from the program. However, the Congress let the program expire in 2016 and the funds were lost that year.
Under the new authorization, Valley County will receive just over $1 million, or 5 percent less than its last payment of $1.14 million authorized in 2015, Valley County Commission Chair Gordon Cruickshank said.
Those funds should arrive within six weeks, Cruickshank said.
The second payment, which will be 5 percent less than the first payment, will arrive in early 2019, he said.
Valley County Road Superintendent Jeff McFadden was unavailable to comment on how the new funds will be spent.
“I am happy that we will receive some funding for a brief amount of time,” Cruickshank said.
The fact that the reauthorization is only for two years casts uncertainty over future road funding, he said
“It provides no stability into the future and makes it difficult to look at road improvements as Valley County grows,” Cruickshank said.
“With the Treasure Valley growing we all know they will come to the mountains to play so it will impact our county road system,” he said.
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Valley County imposes weight limits for large trucks
The Star-News March 29, 2018
Weight limits for large trucks have been imposed on most paved Valley County roads, the Valley County Road Department has announced.
The roads affected are marked with signs noting weight limits of 14,000 pounds per axle. Those roads include Farm to Market Road, Elo Road, West Lake Fork Road, East Lake Fork Road, Norwood Road, Mission Street, and Johnson Lane.
Other roads posted for weight limits include Heinrich Lane, Samson Trail, Rogers Lane, Paddy Flat Road, West Roseberry Road and East Roseberry Road, Scheline Lane, Lakeshore Drive, Cabarton Road and Gold Dust Road.
“These load limits will minimize damage from heavier vehicle loads using these routes during the freeze-thaw cycle,” Valley County Road Department Superintendent Jeff McFadden said.
The limits will be lifted when the roads have been determined to be stable after the spring thaw, McFadden said.
Call the road department at 208-382-7195 with questions.
source:
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Use changes planned for Van Wyck, Crown Point campgrounds
The Star-News March 29, 2018
Changes are coming to the ways customers will use the Van Wyck and Crown Point units of Lake Cascade State Park, the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation said.
The Crown Point Unit and associated campground will be moving to a reservation-based use system from its current first-come, first-served model.
Additionally, the Van Wyck Unit and associated campground will have designated, numbered campsites, and designated day use areas.
The changes are being made to accommodate increased use, the parks department said.
The changes will include limitations to the number of people per site as well as limits to the type, size, and amount of equipment the sites will accommodate.
“Lake Cascade State Park has become an increasingly popular place to enjoy Idaho’s beautiful outdoor offerings,” Lake Cascade State Park Manager Theresa Perry said.
“Our goal with these changes is to provide a better experience for visitors, while being proactive in managing the resources within the park,” Perry said.
Crown Point visitors can begin making reservations on May 1, for stays after May 24. Reservations for stays within Idaho’s state parks can be made toll-free by phone at 1-888-922-6743 or online at http://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov.
Campsites within Van Wyck have already been designated and numbered in preparation for the 2018 season.
“We are creating appropriate, sustainable areas for use that will mitigate potential conflicts, caused by dispersed use,” Perry said.
Van Wyck will continue to be a first-come, first served camping area.
source:
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St. Luke’s in McCall reopens after testing unknown substance
A vial containing white powder was found in the hospital’s waiting area on Tuesday.
KTVB Updated March 28, 2018
McCall – St. Luke’s in McCall has been reopened after a scare involving an unknown powder discovered inside the hospital.
The waiting area of St. Luke’s McCall Medical Center was shut down Tuesday after an unknown substance was found there.
McCall Chief of Police Justin Williams said two hospital patrons spotted a metal vial on the floor of the waiting area around 2:30 p.m. It was given to a staff member, who opened it and found that it contained white powder.
Williams said the hospital took “universal precautions” after the substance was found. Staff and patrons were moved out of the waiting area, and the air vents were purged and shut off.
The staff member who opened the container was quarantined and treated for exposure, but is OK, officials say.Williams said there were still patients in ER and in rooms as of around 8 p.m.
A hazardous materials team from Boise arrived Tuesday night and was testing the powder to determine what it is.
A St. Luke’s spokeswoman said Wednesday morning officials had determined the substance was not dangerous, and the hospital returned to normal operations by 11 p.m. Tuesday.
source:
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This was Texas billionaires’ role in revising Idaho trespass law
By Rocky Barker and Cynthia Sewell Idaho Statesman March 28, 2018
The two controversial Texas brothers who have bought thousands of acres of Idaho forest land weren’t listed as a part of the coalition that successfully carried a trespassing bill to the governor’s desk.
The Wilks brothers were involved. But they weren’t the driving force, said House Speaker Scott Bedke.
“To attribute this trespassing bill to the Wilks brothers is not completely accurate,” Bedke said.
The bill updates three different sections of Idaho trespass law. It revises private property notice requirements and increases trespassing penalties. Law enforcement and sportsmen’s groups have lingering questions about the measure, and lawmakers are waiting to see whether Gov. Butch Otter will veto the bill before they end the session this week.
Critics sought the entire session to pin the bill on Dan and Farris Wilks, the Texas billionaires who have angered hunters, ATV riders, campers and local officials in central Idaho after they closed off 172,000 acres of forest they bought in 2016. The land was already private property for years, but hunters and others had enjoyed access to it and the network of roads running through it under previous owners Boise Cascade and Potlatch Corp.
Initially, the Wilkses closed down logging, hunting and canceled leases with Valley County to main roads that provided access to snowmobile trails on public lands. They later worked out a deal with the county and Idaho snowmobilers that reopened some access. And the brothers made news again earlier this month when they put 54,000 acres in Idaho up for sale.
But a 2017 video showing a run-in between a security guard and a Valley County recreationalist on the public Clear Creek Road reinforced the view that the brothers were not good neighbors.
Rep. Terry Gestrin, R-Donnelly, was a strong supporter of the trespassing bill. He said his constituents aren’t happy with the Wilkses, and if the bill was seen as solely protecting them, he couldn’t have supported it.
“I didn’t appreciate what the Wilkses did either,” Gestrin said. “I told Justin (Wilks, Farris’ son) this isn’t Texas.”
But it is private land, and farmers, ranchers and other large landowners have complained for years about the mixed-up and toothless set of rules and laws around trespassing. Bedke said many of his neighbors have been trying to get him to address the problem for several years.
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Idaho’s noxious weed growth starting early this year
Steve Bertel Mar 29, 2018
Boise, ID – Idaho noxious weed officials are warning Idahoans that the state’s generally mild winter — coupled with recent warming temperatures — means conditions are prime for an early and aggressive emergence of Idaho’s 67 different species of invasive and damaging noxious weeds.
Prime culprits found throughout Idaho include Poison hemlock, Canada thistle, Whitetop, Scotch thistle and Rush skeletonweed. They can usually be found along in pastures, hayfields, yards, or along ditch banks.
“We are already getting reports that various species of noxious weeds are starting to pop up through the ground. That means now is the perfect time for landowners and residents to take action to prevent noxious weeds from getting a head start on our native vegetation — leaving us to try to catch up later in the year,” said Roger Batt, Statewide Coordinator for the Idaho Weed Awareness Campaign.
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Idaho hydrologist discusses snow survey and how it will affect our streams
by KBOI News Staff Friday, March 30th 2018
video report:
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Rathdrum becomes first Monarch USA city in Idaho
3/26/18 AP
Rathdrum, Idaho — Officials in the northern Idaho city of Rathdrum are hoping a new designation will attract a new kind of tourists: Monarch butterflies.
The city is the first in the state to receive the Monarch City USA designation from the nonprofit group by the same name based in Maple Valley, Washington.
The Coeur d’Alene Press reports monarch cities plant milkweed and nectar plants within their boundaries to attract and aid the iconic orange and black butterflies. A small Monarch City sign featuring the butterfly will soon be posted at the city’s entrance.
Data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service show that nearly a billion monarch butterflies have vanished since 1990. The milkweed and nectar plants they rely on are decreasing across the country.
Rathdrum city administrator Leon Duce said city officials sought the designation after looking into whether milkweed is a noxious weed. Duce says they learned the plant category includes many flowering and native wildflowers.
source:
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Lucky Peak Nursery seed sale to improve wildlife habitat
Alex Merritt Mar 31, 2018 KIVI TV
Boise, (ID) – With the change of seasons, comes new plant life. Treasure Valley residents were invited to take home surplus seeds today from the Boise National Forest’s Lucky Peak Nursery.
The surplus seedling sale offered native plants like sagebrush, ponderosa pine, and Douglas fir seedlings.
The goal of the seed sale is to encourage homeowners to enhance forests on their properties while improving wildlife habitat.
Haley Smith, the Lucky Peak Nursery Manager, says many people are using the seeds to grow windbreaks especially people who were impacted by fires.
Each year, the lucky peak nursery produces more than 3 million trees and shrubs.
These seedlings are used for public land reforestation in the intermountain west disturbed by wildfires and timber harvests.
source:
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Mining News:
Ask Midas: Why Are There Metals in the River?
March 22
Midas Gold Idaho wants to keep the community informed about the work we are doing at the Stibnite Gold Project site. The Ask Midas blog series gives the experts in our company a chance to answer some of the community’s most frequently asked questions and help clear up any misconceptions around the project.
At Midas Gold, we keep a very close eye on the water quality of the East Fork of the South Fork of the Salmon River. As soon as we started exploring the site, we began an extensive baseline study to find out the existing water quality conditions and today, we continue to regularly monitor stream conditions. A few years ago, we also commissioned a multi-year study by the U.S. Geological Survey to evaluate the water quality in the area and they found high levels of antimony and arsenic in various waterways. Metals like these can be dangerous. So why are they in the water? This week, I get to explain in our Ask Midas series.
Why Are There Metals in the East Fork of the South Fork of the Salmon River?
The Stibnite Gold Project is located in a mineral-rich region of Idaho. There is a lot of naturally occurring stibnite (an antimony mineral) at our site, that gives the project its name. This natural high concentration of minerals means it is common for metals to be present in the waterways. However, the situation is made worse because of how past mining operators left the region.
On our site, Meadow Creek, a main tributary of the East Fork of the South Fork of the Salmon River, flows by approximately 10.5 million tons of spent ore and tailings deposited directly in the valley, without a liner, that was left behind by past miners. These old tailings and rocks have elevated concentrations of metals and, when they interact with surface water or the water table, metals can leach out and make their way into the river or groundwater. This, along with exposure to naturally high concentrations of metals in the mineralized zones near the East Fork of the South Fork of the Salmon River, is why levels of arsenic and antimony are present in the river downstream of the site.
Through our Plan of Restoration and Operations, we have a plan to fix this issue.
If you have a question you would like us to answer, please email it to community@midasgoldcorp.com
source:
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Plan to block new gold mining near Yellowstone moves ahead
AP Mar 29, 2018
Helena, Mont. (AP) – U.S. government officials are moving forward with a plan to block new gold mining claims for 20 years on more than 30,000 acres of public lands north of Yellowstone National Park.
The U.S. Forest Service released a draft environmental assessment on Thursday for the proposed withdrawal of lands in the Absaroka mountains from new claims for gold and other “locatable” minerals, such as silver, platinum and uranium.
The proposal has been in the works since November 2016. The Forest Service must complete a final environmental analysis and make a recommendation before U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke can make a final decision, which is expected by November.
Forest Service officials say the purpose of the plan is to protect and preserve the forested, mountainous areas for wildlife and recreation just north of the nation’s first national park.
source:
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Public Lands:
Budget deal includes wildfire disaster fund to end ‘fire borrowing’
March 22, 2018 By Matthew Daly AP
Washington (AP) — A spending bill slated for a vote in Congress includes a bipartisan plan to create a wildfire disaster fund to help combat increasingly severe wildfires that have devastated the West in recent years.
The bill sets aside more than $20 billion over 10 years to allow the Forest Service and other federal agencies end a practice of raiding non-fire-related accounts to pay for wildfire costs, which approached $3 billion last year.
Western lawmakers have long complained that the current funding mechanism — tied to a 10-year average for wildfires — makes budgeting difficult, even as fires burn longer and hotter each year.
The new plan sets aside $2 billion per year — outside the regular budget — so officials don’t have to tap money meant for prevention programs to fight wildfires.
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Using drones to help fight wildfires
The Bureau of Land Management expects to use drones more every year for fighting wildfires.
Tami Tremblay March 30, 2018 KTVB
Boise – Although snow still sits on the foothills, the next wildfire season will be here before we know it. The federal government wants to use drones to help fire crews.
The Department of Interior has around 300 drones and the Bureau of Land Management has 120 of them. KTVB went to the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise to see some of the drones.
“Just be getting up 400 feet above the crew and looking down, that aerial perspective is unique and provides a great amount of information, especially in forested areas where you can’t see the canopy,” said Gil Dustin, who is the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program Manager for the BLM. “We have an infrared camera, we have a mapping camera, and we have just the GoPro.”
This will be the third fire season to use the technology. According to the Department of Interior, last year there were 707 drone missions on 71 wildfires. Dustin says they are a big help for crews on the ground.
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BLM to conduct prescribed burn in southwest Idaho
Date: March 26, 2018
Contact: Jared Jablonski jjablonski@blm.gov (208) 384-3210
Boise, Idaho – The Bureau of Land Management will soon conduct the Pole Creek Jackpot Prescribed Burn, located approximately 35 miles southeast of Jordan Valley, Oregon, on the western flanks of Juniper Mountain. Expected to take place during the first two weeks of April, ignitions will occur for two to three days with subsequent mop-up and patrol continuing for several days after.
This 2,500-acre burn will target piles of heavy, dead fuels that have accumulated from previous western juniper thinning projects, but not the surrounding live vegetation. This is part of an effort to protect the sage-steppe landscape that supports traditional land uses and serves as important habitat for wildlife.
The exact timing of this burn is subject to weather, fuel and ground conditions.
For more information, contact the BLM Boise District at (208) 384-3210.
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USDA Forest Service Intermountain Region
Newsletter Volume 2 Issue 6 March 28, 2018
link:
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Letter to Share:
Free Kid’s Day
Annual Free Kid’s Day Hunting and Shooting at Little Canyon Shooting Preserve at the Peck, Idaho Ranch. Watch for Directions Signs From Hwy 12 to the Ranch on the Free Day:
Saturday, April 7th 2018
Check in time 9 AM To 1 PM – hunting, shooting all day!
Shoot at a 22 rifle range, practice on the clay shooting range, practice on the archery range with life size targets, and then go to the open fields where 3 pheasants will be released for each hunter. Each youth will be assigned a safety advisor and will hunt with a dog and handler. After each youth has been through once, if there is still daylight they may be able to go through again. The 22 small bore rifle range, clays, and archery ranges will be open all day or as long as we have shooters. There will also be tours of the bird hatchery.
There will be a complimentary lunch, and ammunition will be provided by vista outdoors in Lewiston. We have shotguns available for the younger hunters or you may bring your own. Remember, members and local sportsman will work dogs for the hunters and each youth will be assigned a safety advisor.
Requirements
Idaho Residents: Hunters safety certificate and Idaho hunting license.
Non-residents: Hunter safety certificate and 502 class non-resident shooting preserve license (available on-site).
RSVP To Let Us Know if You Plan to Attend: Call or email –
1-208-486-6235 lcs @ cpcinternet.com littlecanyonshooting.com
1-208-883-3423 jhag1 @ frontier.com The Gamebird Foundation
Help us find kids who are our future hunters and leaders and will help preserve our great American outdoor tradition.
Jim Hagedorn
Executive Director
The Gamebird Foundation
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Critter News:
Cascade vet clinic to hold pet vaccinations April 7
The Star-News March 29, 2018
Cascade Veterinary Clinic will host a pet vaccination clinic on Saturday, April 7, at 10 a.m.
No appointments are necessary. Available shots will include rabies vaccinations as well as canine and feline specific immunizations. Costs range from $15 to $20 per shot. Cascade dog licenses will also be available.
For more information, contact veterinarian Keith Ruble at 208-382-4590. Cascade Veterinary Clinic is located at 935 S. Idaho 55.
[Note: The Yellow Pine Vet Clinic will probably be the 2nd Wednesday in June. Will let folks know when we have a definite date.]
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Riggins woman sells flowers to aid MCPAWS shelter
The Star-News March 29, 2018
A Riggins woman is selling daffodils and tulips from her garden to benefit MCPAWS Regional Animal Shelter in McCall.
Frances Ford will bring the flowers to the MCPAWS Thrift Store in downtown McCall. Cost is $1 for each daffodil and $1.50 for each tulip.
“Idaho County does not contribute to MCPAWS, yet the shelter will include our pets in their rescue and neutering programs,” Ford said of her project, which is called “Beauty for The Beasts.”
“I know it’s a bit spendy, but they’re organically grown flowers from Riggins to benefit dogs and cats who need medical care,” she said.
To place a direct order, contact Ford at 208-469-0088, francie.ford2 @ gmail.com
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Health agency reports case of plague in Santa Fe County dog
3/30/18 AP
Santa Fe, N.M. — State health officials report a case of plague in a dog from Santa Fe County, making it the first diagnosed case of plague in New Mexico this year.
The Department of Health says it’s checking the home of the dog’s owner for risks to others and sending personnel around the neighborhood to inform residents and provide information on reducing risks.
Plague is a bacterial disease of wildlife and is generally transmitted to humans and pets through the bites of infected fleas. Pet animals also can be exposed after eating an infected animal. Plague can be transmitted to humans by direct contact with infected animals, including rodents, wildlife and pets.
The department says New Mexico had four human cases of plague in 2017 and that those people all survived the illness.
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KWVR Oregon Wolf Education weekly Wolf Report
March 28, 2018
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20 years later, Mexican wolf program frustrates all sides
By Susan Montoya Bryan – 3/28/18 AP
Albuquerque, N.M. — On the edge of the Mogollon Rim in eastern Arizona, snow covered the ground and blizzard conditions were setting in as biologists prepared to open the gates to a trio of pens, releasing three packs of Mexican gray wolves that would soon have the distinction of being the first of their kind to roam the wild in decades.
Thursday marks the 20th anniversary of that release and a major milestone for an effort that started decades earlier when the predators were first declared an endangered species.
In the months following the 1998 release, five of the 11 wolves were poached and the remaining animals had to be captured and paired with new mates before being released again. The wild population has struggled to gain significant ground, and only recently reached a high of 114 wolves.
The costly effort to return Mexican wolves to the American Southwest and Mexico has been fraught with frustration, as ranchers push back over livestock kills by the predators and environmentalists warn of returning to the brink of extinction if more wolves aren’t released into the wild.
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Wolf Education International
Newsletter March 27, 2018
Meeting Scott Walter of the Wisconsin DNR
Congressional Bid To Remove Wisconsin Wolves From Endangered Species List Falls Flat
Washington’s wolf population surge slows, worrying advocates
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Montana only state without grizzly hunting plan this year
AP Mar 26, 2018
Bozeman, Mont. (AP) – While Idaho and Wyoming pursue plans to allow grizzly bear hunting outside Yellowstone National Park, Montana wildlife officials say they don’t regret deciding against holding a hunt this year.
This past week, Idaho opened public comment on a proposal for a hunt of one male grizzly. Wyoming has released a proposal to sell 24 grizzly tags.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department officials decided against proposing a hunt in February.
Agency spokesman Greg Lemon tells the Bozeman Daily Chronicle that each state made decisions they felt were best for their state.
Critics are worried that the proposed hunts threaten the newly delisted grizzly population, which is estimated at more than 700 in the Yellowstone area.
Several environmental groups and Native Americans have sued to restore federal protections for the bears.
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Wildlife officials report waking bears in western Montana
3/28/18 AP
Missoula, Mont. — Wildlife officials say grizzly bears are beginning to wake up and depart from their winter dens across western Montana.
The Missoulian reports that Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks department officials have sighted bear tracks, noted activity on radio collars and received a few eyewitness reports since the beginning of March.
Department bear management specialist Tim Manley says the state’s above-average snowpack this year is forcing the bears to enter the valley floors in search of food.
Department bear manager Jamie Jonkel says black bears are also on the move with sightings reported north of Missoula in the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area.
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Deer rescued from hydroelectric power plant in Nevada
3/30/18 AP
Verdi, Nev. — Eight deer have been rescued alive from a hydroelectric power plant in northern Nevada.
Firefighters and others rescued the deer Thursday after they were swept down a canal and got trapped inside the power plant in Verdi, a community along the Nevada-California border.
The deer suffered from hypothermia. Two other deer died in the water.
The Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District says bystanders and others put blankets and towels over the deer in an effort to help them warm up. Some of the deer received fluids through IVs and others got stitches for some cuts.
Officials say they don’t know how the deer ended up in the canal, but they say it is possible the animals floated up to a mile before they reached the plant.
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Fish & Game News:
F&G to host McCall hunter education field day April 7
The Star-News March 29, 2018
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game will host a Hunter Education Field Day on Saturday, April 7, at 8 a.m. at the Best Western Plus McCall Lodge and Suites.
This is the companion class to the online course, and students must bring their certificate of online completion to participate. The class will cover wildlife identification, laws, rules and regulations as well as field course and state exam information.
Students must dress for outdoor activities. No open-toed shoes or personal firearms are allowed.
Participants must be at least 9 years old, although the class is recommended for ages 14 years and older. Those under 18 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to sign in.
For more information or to register, contact the McCall Fish and Game Office at 208-634-8137.
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Payette Lake’s fishing is at a crossroads, which way do anglers want it to go?
Lake trout are eating all the kokanee and shrinking in the process
By Roger Phillips, Public Information Specialist
Friday, March 30, 2018
Managing a large sterile lake with big, long-lived predators and a fluctuating prey species poses a big challenge for fisheries managers, and Payette Lake at McCall is the latest case where managers are asking anglers what they would like to see in the future.
The issue essentially breaks down to Payette Lake’s lake trout population, which also happens to drive the population of its primary prey species, kokanee salmon. Balancing those two populations is critical to maintaining viable fisheries for each, and that balance comes at a cost, but more on that later.
Payette lake is currently dominated by lake trout, which isn’t a bad thing, but they’ve created problems, as Fish and Game Regional Fish Manager Dale Allen explains.
“Based on past stocking strategies for lake trout in Payette Lake during the 1980s, they are now overly abundant. This increase has reduced the kokanee, which is their favorite and most-important food.”
The lack of kokanee is affecting the future size and population of lake trout, which are “now smaller and much thinner than they were just a few years back,” Allen said.
There are a couple of options: Add more kokanee, or remove some lake trout, but both have challenges.
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F&G News Releases
https://idfg.idaho.gov/press
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Fun Critter Stuff:
Animals enjoy egg hunt at ZSL London Zoo
photo gallery:
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Seasonal Humor:
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Tips & Advice:
How you’re tracked online — and what you can do about it
by Anick Jesdanun, AP Technology Writer Sunday, April 1st 2018
Though Facebook gets the attention because of a recent privacy gaffe, the social network is far from alone in collecting massive amounts of data on you to help marketers sell you stuff.
Google, for one, also does extensive tracking to power its advertising engines. And many other websites and apps run ads sold by Facebook and Google and exchange data with them. Beyond that, plenty of services including Uber and Amazon keep detailed histories on you.
Here are some of the ways to block or minimize such tracking — but they come with trade-offs.
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The Yellow Pine Times 