Despite the concerns raised by Wilderness Watch, our members and supporters, and other conservation groups, the Forest Service recently renewed 62 existing outfitter permits in the Bob Marshall, Scapegoat, and Great Bear Wildernesses in Montana without any environmental analysis or disclosure of these commercial operations’ impacts.
These three Wildernesses comprise the 1.5-million-acre Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. The “Bob,” as it’s known, helps protect one of the last great expanses of biodiversity in North America, with outstanding habitat for grizzly bears, Canada lynx, wolverines, elk, gray wolves, moose, mountain lions, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and many more species.
The Bob has a long history of outfitting and guiding, and some outfitters have been instrumental in protecting the area. But, as we pointed out in our scoping comments—which provided the only opportunity for public comment—impacts from outfitting and camps are often glossed over or overlooked. This includes wilderness trails so heavily used by pack animals that they more resemble roads than foot or horse trails, and many outfitter campsites more suited to front country “glamping” than wilderness travel. These impacts are compounded by the extraordinarily large party sizes (up to 35 pack animals) allowed in the Wildernesses. And, we urged the Forest Service to consider the impacts of these commercial hunting operations on the wolves, bears, and mountain lions living
in the Bob, especially in light of Montana’s war on predators.
Given the growing impacts from all recreation use in the Bob, the Forest Service needed to do a thorough environmental analysis—with public input—before issuing new outfitter-guide permits. Unfortunately, the agency’s use of a categorical exclusion completely sidestepped the more rigorous environmental analysis and public input this important area deserves. We’re considering our next steps.
Photo at top: Bob Marshall Wilderness by Howie Wolke
