Wolves & Elk
“Idaho elk numbers have fallen from 125,000 to 103,000 since about 1997 to the dismay of hunters, professional big game outfitters and small businesses that depend on seasonal revenues from hunters.
Habitat changes and heavy feeding by bears and cougars spurred the elk decline before wolves came on the scene, but state and federal wildlife research now links the continued drop in some areas to the increased activity of wolves, said Craig White, an Idaho Department of Fish and Game biologist in Boise.
“What we found in the backcountry zones, we found wolves were the primary cause of mortality,” (more)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Owl vs. Owl
“Federal wildlife officials in charge of protecting the northern spotted owl will release today a long-awaited environmental impact statement that lays out alternatives for killing barred owls, a larger, more aggressive and more adaptive species that has displaced spotted owls through much of their range in Oregon, Washington and northern California.” (more) (Barred Owls)
SwittersB & Exploring 