Skip to main content
Category

Issues

APNewsBreak: Prairie chicken listed as threatened

By Issues
...the lesser prairie chicken on a list of threatened species, a move that could affect oil and gas drilling, wind farms and other activities in five central and southwestern states.The decision by the Fish and Wildlife Service is a step below "endangered" status and allows for more flexibility in how protections for the bird will be carried out under the Endangered Species Act.Dan Ashe, the agency's director, said he knows the decision...
Read More

EDITORIAL: Federal regulations should be based on reality, not agendas

By Issues
The agency agreed to determine whether to grant the chicken "threatened" status under ESA by March 31. As part of that settlement, the agency agreed to not consider granting the bird the less-significant "warranted but precluded" designation. He notes ESA requires the federal government to make determinations on species' listing "solely on the basis of the best scientific and commercial data available" while also taking in account state efforts to preserve animals.
Read More

Ranchers and national agencies work to protect private sage grouse in 11 states

By Issues
The BLM has proposed a major initiative to do the same on its lands. But not everyone's in favor of cutting down more trees. A sage grouse endangered species listing could restrict development, energy exploration and ranching. Sage grouse numbers declined sharply in the early 1900s and again after World War II. About 140,000 to 500,000 of the birds survive today, scientists estimate. The 2-foot-tall creatures depend on sagebrush.
Read More

Got land? You can be a guide

By Issues
Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, unsuccessfully attempted to have the bill held in committee. In most cases, Idaho law shields landowners who give free access to hunters and anglers from civil prosecution resulting from accidents. He points out that the customers of outfitters are members of the public. "Oftentimes landowners do not allow anyone on their property unless there is some monetary compensation.
Read More

House shoots down drones to monitor fishing, hunting

By Issues
But that policy changed about a year ago and now destroys undeliverable books. Ryan Haynes, R-Knoxville, was peppered with questions when the bill (SB2259) came up on the House floor. In his hometown, Haynes said, Knox County Disability Coordinator Stephanie Cook has said "everybody should be treated equally" on parking fees, including the handicapped.
Read More

Kansas battle to reduce feral hog population seems to be working

By Issues
Most of the spread has more to do with highways than hooves. Both biologists blame hunters wanting to establish feral hog populations near their homes for the spread. They also banned all but landowners from sport hunting wild swine, too. Salter said the lone exception is in a Bourbon County in southeast Kansas, where some landowners desire feral pigs so they can hunt them with dogs.
Read More