" Have
we heard the chimes at midnight?"
- Chris Barnes, BLM
I have had a whopper concussion for
3 1/2 weeks, just getting back to typing and focusing, feeling
more normal, so forgive me for dropping the ball on some important
issues - couldnt get my brain to work properly. I am sure I
am missing some important issues here. Thankfully, I managed
to peck away at a legislator contact table I had already started,
to make it easier for public involvement during the legislative
session.
Montana Legislator Contact - Montana Politics
> There is a search link if you dont know who your legislators
are; Montana US Legislators; State Senate and House Representatives
by District with available contact information and linked email
addresses that will open your email program - a quick and easy
way to reach out to legislators to support or oppose the up
coming bills. I also included the State House Senate Fish &
Game Committee and House of Representatives Fish, Wildlife &
Parks Committee email links - so all you have to do is click
on that email link - it will then open up your email window
with all of the committee members address populated, so you
dont have to add them individually. The Bill
Watch page will be populated shortly. If you have read through
a particular bill involving Montana's wildlife or habitat, public
lands or access, and want to submit info of concern, please
email me at kathryn@emwh.org .
Together we can network the issues and have a greater impact
for our Public Trust.
Coming Soon -
EMWH's Conservation Digital
Citizenship I have been running a project
around in my head since late summer, brainstorming with my brain
trust conservation friends. I just purchased the software that
I would need and will have the first segments up soon. Check
back shortly!
"Have we heard the Chimes at Midnight?"
BLM Chris Barnes
"Are we embarrassed by Wilderness?" The broken three legged
stool of agencies, NGOs and the public.
This is an honest, awesome explanation about Wilderness. Barnes
question of will we be celebrating Wilderness in another 50
years, or even in 10, is pertinent to the political issues our
Public Lands face today.
Montana conservation writer
David Stalling put together a beautiful montage
- Seasons Under The Big Sky.
Public Lands
Bullwhacker Bypass Road BLM
Proposal
Please take a few moments of your time to submit a public comment
for Alt. 3 - East Bullwhacker Access Road.
Public lands transfer boondoggle continues
finds support in upcoming session by Randy Newberg
"In Montana, after the elk is tagged and converted to little
wrapped packages, we say, “Meat’s in the freezer.” An homage
to our history; an important part of our culture -- we give
thanks to God for his bounty. For the vast majority of Montana
hunters, that winter meat comes from our public lands.
Yet, the legacy these lands provide is under attack. Seems strange,
given the reliance Montanans have on these public lands and
the opportunities provided."
Sportsmen’s Groups: Don’t
Let Congress Sell Public Lands
by Bob Marshall
"The idea to sell or give away these lands, which has long been
on the fringe of political possibilities, is now a major concern
among sportsmen’s groups due to the results of the mid-term
elections. Republicans in the House who have been pushing this
idea for several years (proposed Disposal of Excess Federal
Lands Act) will now have a majority in the Senate to move this
disaster to the president’s desk."
Daines seeks feedback on forest
reform by Karl Puckett
"Daines co-sponsored the Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy
Communities Act, which passed the House in September but failed
in the Senate.
Now that Republicans are in control in the Senate as well, forest
reform continues to be a priority for Republicans, Lockman said.
She said Daines would be involved in drafting legislation."
Please see the Restoring
Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act Page.
Man banned from federal lands for
building illegal hunting camp
"A Jefferson County resident was fined and banned from all federal
lands for two years after being convicted of illegally building
trails and structures in the Helena National Forest.
Robert C. Myers, 64, was found guilty in a Great Falls federal
court on Dec. 4 after a multi-year investigation led to charges
over a semi-permanent hunting camp. He was convicted of constructing
and maintaining a trail, constructing an enclosure, constructing
structures and camping for longer than the state limit of 14
days, said Tony Fedele, Forest Service law enforcement officer.
'(Banishment) is significant and not something that occurs very
often, which speaks to the egregious nature of what he was doing,'
Fedele said."
Public Wildlife
Bighorn Sheep die off in Gardiner,
MT.
Bill Hoppe irresponsibly placed a small herd of domestic sheep
in Gardiner Montana in April 2013. Domestic sheep and goats
are natural carriers of pneumonia which will infect and kill
the majority of wild Bighorn Sheep or Mountain Goats. He was
notified by various agencies, organizations and individuals
the lethal threat to the wild Bighorn Sheep population this
posed. He didnt care. His sheep were documented commingling
with the wild Bighorn Sheep of the area. Coughing Bighorns were
spotted in the fall of 2013. Recently there was a die off of
at least 12 Bighorns in Gardiner, necropsies confirmed it was
pneumonia.
I have been following and documenting this situation since April
2013. Due to my concussion when this occurred (around 18th of
Dec.), I have not been able to get the timeline and information
created on the page. Hopefully, I will get to that in the next
week so that you can see the threat Bill Hoppes domestic sheep
pose to our Public Trust wildlife and the propaganda being put
out by Fish, Wildlife & Parks to whitewash the issue.
First non-lethal predator damage management
workshop to be held in Dillon
On Oct. 29th, 2013 EMWH set up a unique presentation in Bozeman,
believing that prevention is far more effective and economic
than dealing with the aftermath - Tools
For Coexistence Between Livestock & Large Carnivores: Guard
Dogs & Rangeland Stewardship Presentation. I am glad
to see this effort take off in Montana.
"Livestock producers and landowners are invited to attend a
one-day non-lethal predator damage management workshop in Dillon,
Mont...
'This is going to be a great day full of important information,'
said Steuber. It is a chance for producers to come and ask the
hard questions and get the honest answer. The workshop is free."
One-day workshop on Jan. 7, 2015. For more information contact
Steuber at 406-657-6464.
For non-lethal night predator deterrant LED Foxlights
US Contact for ordering - Fauna Tomlinson, CA - 530-386-3311
A solar unit due out this spring.
I would like to thank the following
contributors for supporting EMWH. Your gift is very much appreciated.
Jerry
Hover, Tim Crawford, Lloyd Dorsey, Ward & Gloria Olson,
Nancy Schultz and Leviyah Kern.
Thank you,
Kathryn QannaYahu
406-579-7748
www.emwh.org
