Upcoming Changes & Wildlife News

Soon I will be cutting back on bills. My lovely high speed internet is going bye-bye so I will be posting from elsewhere. Pictures will be gone unless I can put them on an internet address. I do have Picassa web stuff but so far have been unsuccessful in my dealings with it :(

Bear news:

A grizzly attacked a couple while they where asleep in their tent around Cooke City, MT. The guy is fine and actually fared better than what usually happens to most people under these circumstances. His hand was tore up. Nothing happened to his wife. I was up there shortly after that (driving only) and all the campgrounds were closed until the bear could be found. A bear was found a short while ago in the area and was shipped off to some "research center". They did not know if it was the bear that attacked but they shipped it off anyway. Normally, I think they would have just killed the bear even with no way of proving it attacked or not, so I find it a bit odd that it went to this center in Washington. I'm leary of research centers. The bear could be wishing it was dead right now rather than undergoing sick tests or whatever they do there. Could be an innocent bear anyway.

Also, after living all these years out here, I was recently informed that that particular area is where "problem" bears are shipped to after being caught up to no good in the Park. Most people that live here do not know this! Seems like the public should be more widely informed about this practice so we can make our own judgement as to whether to chance it or not. I can also understand why we are not well-informed about this practice. I am grateful the bears are getting a second chance there but I think I will not chance it by camping or hiking there, unless I'm with a very large group.

Wolf news:

Yeah! They are back on the Endangered Species List before the first official hunt could take place. At least for a while. Naturally, oppositon is appealling the decision. So keep on fighting for these animals, especially in the next few months.

Guns in our national parks:

Bush is at it again. He wants to allow guns into our national parks. While I am all for a person's right to bear arms, I am not for this proposal at all. I think this is a bad idea any way you look at it for our national treasures-ranger and tourist safety, animal safety, preservation of the natural surroundings,etc. The comment period is ending soon, August 8 I think, so please Google it and send in your comments.