Idaho senator goes to bat for welfare ranchers with Interior nominee

Sen. Jim Risch apparently has no earthly idea what "rangeland health" is really all about. Dear senator, rangeland that is in poor shape likely has been stomped and overgrazed into submission by the livestock of welfare ranchers who pay a pittance for the privilege of fattening their cows and sheep on public land. That is the issue, dear senator. How about drafting legislation that would finally make ranchers pay the market-based rate for the privilege of grazing their meat on OUR public lands? The Idaho Statesman's Rocky Barker offers this view of the senator's pleadings to Sally Jewell, the nominee to repalce Ken Salazar as Interior secretary.

A gas pipeline through a national wildlife refuge?

Through it, or next to it, the ecological damage would still be there. Monica and I had the pleasure of visiting Buenas Aires National Wildlife Refuge south of Tucson during our second trek to Arizona. Even had the honor of meeting refuge manager Sally  Gall, who is quoted in this article. The disruption and fragmentation of habitat would be a problem regardless of where the pipeline goes in.

In Utah, $300K to fund anti-wolf campaign

And that's for the second year of an idiot-proof campaign backed by the "what's ecology?" crowd. This article has the lowdown  on this shameful use of tax dollars.

Sapstreak, a fungal invader, attacking sugar maples

I was unaware of this invader until reading this first-person account, but it's all very real know. The list of tree-killers out there is legion, and the bulldozer is just one of them: Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, Chestnut Blight, Emerald Ash Borer, Dogwood Anthracnose, etc.

Game over fro the climate

That's the message of this op-ed column written by NASA climatologist Dr. James Hansen. Climate change is not a hoax. It is quite real and human action - the  burning of fossil fuels - is the cause. The Canadian tar sands oil would quickly make our planet's climate spiral out of control.

Fish and Wildlife Service Seeks Public Comment on Gunnison Sage-Grouse

In a New York Times op-ed today, Cornell Lab director John Fitzpatrick tells the Gunnison Sage-Grouse's remarkable story of discovery and disappearance. Known for centuries to the inhabitants of modern-day Colorado and Utah, it was only formally described as a new species in 2000—despite the bird's flamboyant displays and former popularity as a gamebird. As the bird's numbers continue to fall from changes to its sagebrush habitat, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is weighing listing the species under the Endangered Species Act—a move that would trigger important protections. To aid their decision they've issued a call for public comments, which are due by March 12. Read the article.

The value of science

Don't look to wacky Republicans in Congress for a true understanding of what the role of science should be in public policy. After all, to many Republicans the following are truisms: The Earth is flat, global warming is a hoax, and something ill-labeled as "intelligent design" should be taught in public schools. This op-ed points out, in good words, what science truly is to public policy.