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Wilderness Watch in the News

Below is a sampling of recent news articles featuring Wilderness Watch and the Wilderness issues we’re working on.

Wilderness in the Age of Climate Change (NPR, 9/8/2024)
Test of time: The Wilderness Act at 60 (The Spokesman-Review, 9/6/2024)
Wilderness Act’s anniversary spotlights new challenges (Missoulian, 9/3/2024)
Groups threaten lawsuit over black bear baiting in Idaho (The Spokesman-Review, 7/16/2024)
After grizzly’s death, environmental groups to sue Fish and Game over Idaho bear baiting (Idaho Statesman, 7/15/2024)
Groups plan to sue Idaho over bear baiting after grizzly’s death (Coeur d’Alene Press, 7/15/2024)
Advocates launch legal action to prevent grizzly bear deaths at bait stations (KMVT News, 7/15/2024)
Grizzly bear death at bait station precisely what conservation groups’ lawsuit hoped to prevent (KMVT News, 6/20/2024)
Hunter shot grizzly after Idaho officials said it was a black bear (The Spokesman-Review, 7/16/2024)
Should this historical Olympic National Park chalet be saved? (Pacific Northwest Magazine, 5/17/2024)
Grizzly bears will finally return to Washington State. Humans aren’t sure how to greet them (Scientific American, 5/14/2024)
Wild Cumberland’s podcast featuring Wilderness Watch’s George Nickas (The Wild Cumberland Podcast, 5/8/2024)
Environmental groups sue USFWS over its decision not to restore federal protections for Northern Rockies wolves (MT Free Press, 4/8/2024)
Groups sue to give western wolves Endangered Species protection (Missoula Current, 4/8/2024)
US Government Sued Over ‘Unethical Destruction’ of Wolf Population (Common Dreams, 4/8/2024)
Groups go to court to get wolves relisted in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming (Daily Montanan, 4/8/2024)
Conservation groups challenge federal decision to deny western wolves protections (KMTV, 4/8/2024)
Alliance for the Wild Rockies and Allies File Lawsuit to Restore Endangered Species Act Protections for Wolves (Counterpunch, 4/8/24)
Federal Court puts a hold on wolf trapping and snaring in Idaho grizzly bear habitat (KMVT News, 3/20/2024)
Federal Court Limits Idaho Wolf Trapping in Grizzly Habitats (Wide Open Spaces, 3/20/2024)
Court Ruling Halts Wolf Trapping and Snaring in Idaho Grizzly Bear Habitat (Counterpunch News Service, 3/20/2024)
Rock climbers, feds tangle over wilderness rules (E&E News, 3/15/2024)
Wildfires are killing California’s ancient giants. Can seedlings save the species? (NPR, 2/26/2024)
Groups to Sue Feds for Refusing to Protect Wolves in Western US (Common Dreams, 2/7/2024)
Conservationists signal intent to sue over decision not to restore wolves’ federal protections (Montana Free Press, 2/7/2024)
Groups to sue feds over decision not to list wolves (Missoula Current, 2/7/2024)
New proposed federal rock climbing guidence for Wilderness draws skepticism from climbers and conservationists (KUOW, 2/6/2024)
Feds: Protection not needed for Northern Rockies gray wolves (Missoula Current, 2/2/2024)
Environmentalists are suing because national parks are… planting trees? Here’s what’s going on (The Manual, 12/30/2023)
Lethal Rotenone Plan Aims to Trade Wilderness Rainbows for Cutthroat (Mountain Journal, 12/5/2023)
NPS wants to plant sequoias. Environmentalists sue, say there’s no need to butt in (Los Angeles Times, 11/28/2023)
Wilderness Watch files lawsuit to stop efforts to relocate cutthroat trout to a formerly fishless creek (Hatch Magazine, 11/28/2023)
Enviros sue Park Service over planting sequoias (Wildfire Today, 11/28/2023)
Forest Service OKs some motorized use for Rattlesnake dam removal (Missoulian, 11/28/2023)
Why environmentalists are suing the National Park Service to prevent it from planting trees (CNN, 11/27/2023)
Federal climbing proposals spark debate in wilderness areas (Wyoming Public Radio, 11/22/2023)
Some motorized tools approved for Rattlesnake Wilderness dam breach (Missoula Current, 11/21/2023)
California environmentalists sue to stop replanting of sequoia groves (San Francisco Chronicle, 11/20/2023)
Forest Service, Park Service rock climbing proposals worry both climbers and wilderness advocates (Colorado Sun, 11/17/2023)
Group sues the Forest Service to halt trout replacement project in wilderness area (Montana Free Press, 11/13/2023)
Giant Sequoias Are in Big Trouble. How Best to Save Them? (Yale Environment 360, 11/9/2023)
Lawsuit challenges Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness fish poisoning project (Billings Gazette, 11/8/2023)
Wilderness Watch sues Forest Service over Buffalo Creek trout poison project (Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 11/8/2023)
Group sues in attempt to block Absaroka-Beartooth trout poisoning, restoration project (Daily Montanan, 11/8/2023)
Conservationists sue over lethal plans to swap trout in Montana waterways (Courthouse News, 11/8/2023)
Returning grizzly bears to the North Cascades (Salish-Current, 11/3/2023)
E-bikes: A menace or a vehicle giving access for the disabled, elderly? (Deseret News, 10/28/2023)
Science Says What? How an airlift of wolves saved Isle Royale’s ecosystem and sparked a conservation controversy (Great Lakes Now, 9/30/2023)
No pipeline for grayling: Feds abandon project proposed for wilderness area east of Lima (Montana Standard, 9/27/2023)
Should the feds cut trees in California’s wilderness to reduce fire risk? New lawsuit says no (San Francisco Chronicle, 9/26/2023)
Conservation Groups Condemn Park Service Forest-Thinning Project (Bloomberg Law, 9/26/2023)
Conservation Groups Sue National Park Service to Protect Wilderness in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (SnowBrains, 9/26/2023)
Conservationists sue to stop feds from razing trees, burning land in two California parks (Courthouse News Service, 9/25/2023)
Wildlife officials abandon Arctic grayling pipeline plan (Montana Public Radio, 9/20/2023)
Feds withdraw pipeline plan for Arctic grayling in Red Rock Lakes Refuge (Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 9/19/2023)
Feds drop plan for pipeline in Upper Red Rocks Lake (Daily Montanan, 9/18/2023)
Park Service narrowing plan for future of historic Isle Royale cabins (Duluth News Tribune, 9/8/2023)
National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 236 | Wilderness Watch (National Parks Traveler, 8/20/2023)
Yellowstone, Montana fight trout for territory in Lamar River drainage (Jackson Hole News & Guide, 8/17/2023)
National Park Services approves Gunsight Lake native trout preservation project (Kalispell Daily Interlake, 8/16/2023)
Power tools or pack mules: Wilderness dam destruction debated (Missoulian, 8/9/2023)
Hitting reset: Forest Service approves rainbow trout removal project in Buffalo Creek (Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 8/7/2023)
Court upholds Interior’s authority to suspend oil and gas leases in the Arctic Refuge (YubaNet, 8/7/2023)
California’s iconic sequoias are being incinerated by wildfires. Should we save them? (San Francisco Chronicle, 8/5/2023)
US judge blocks water pipeline in Montana that was meant to boost rare fish (Associated Press, 8/3/2023)
Judge blocks plan to build pipeline into Montana Wilderness lake (Missoula Current, 8/3/2023)
Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness fish poisoning project OK’d (Billings Gazette, 8/3/2023)
Judge halts water pipeline project meant to aid Arctic grayling in SW Montana (Helena Independent Record, 8/2/2023)
Judge blocks plan to build pipeline into Montana wilderness lake (Courthouse News Service, 8/2/2023)
Federal judge halts U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s Arctic grayling plans in southwestern Montana (Daily Montanan, 8/2/2023)
Conservation groups sue U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over controversial pipeline project (NBC Montana, 7/28/2023)
Yellowstone proposed nonative trout removal to restore native cutthroat trout (Montana Standard, 7/28/2023)
Groups object to Gunsight Lake fish project (Hungry Horse News, 7/26/2023)
Untrammeled: How a plan to replant giant sequoias unearths questions about the meaning of wilderness (KALW, 7/24/2023)
Conservation groups call for BLM to better address livestock grazing (Buckrail, 7/7/2023)
Outdoor groups challenge plans to build diversion pipeline in Red Rocks Wilderness (Daily Montanan, 6/28/2023)
Group’s lawsuit hopes to stop grayling project in Red Rock Lakes Wilderness (Montana Standard, 6/26/2023)
Groups sue to block grayling project in Red Rock Lakes wilderness area (Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 6/26/2023)
Conservationists claim Fish and Wildlife will illegally manipulate arctic grayling habitat in Montana (Courthouse News, 6/26/2023)
Forest Service denies pleas to chainsaw logjams in Pasayten Wilderness (The Spokesman-Review, 6/23/2023)
Lawsuit: Frank Church wilderness airstrips fly in face of law (Missoulian, 6/21/2023)
Ignored by feds, aircraft continued ‘illegal landings’ in Idaho wilderness, lawsuit says (Idaho Statesman, 6/21/2023)
Preservation or ‘Playing God?’ (Flathead Beacon, 6/21/2023)
Advocates sue Forest Service over Frank Church wilderness airstrips (Idaho Reports, 6/20/2023)
Wolves that nearly died out from inbreeding recovered, now helping a remote island’s ecosystem (Associated Press, 6/14/2023)
Judge declines to halt BWCA motorized towboat usage, rules against environmental group’s request (Minneapolis Star Tribune, 6/7/2023)
Judge allows towboats to continue, for now, in Boundary Waters (Duluth News Tribune, 6/7/2023)
Boundary water motors back in court (Duluth News Tribune, 4/28/2023)
Federal judge considers motorized towboat ban in Boundary Waters (Quetico Superior Wilderness News, 4/26/2023)
Proposal intended to help grayling in wilderness area stirs opposition (Montana Standard, 4/20/2023)
Judge to decide fate of motorized towboats in the BWCA for 2023 (Minneapolis Star Tribune, 4/9/2023)
Idaho wins lawsuit to preserve black bear hunting practices in the Gem State (KMVT, 3/31/2023)
Wilderness group back in court to cut motorized towboats in BWCA (Minneapolis Star Tribune, 2/9/2023)

Here are some recent op-eds written by Wilderness Watch staff or board members about issues we’re working on.

Please, no diamonds for the Wilderness Act’s 60th Anniversary (Missoulian, 9/3/2024)
For its 60th, Wilderness Act doesn’t need diamonds (Sante Fe New Mexican, 9/1/2024)
Grizzly Bear Killed Over Bait in Idaho, Legal Action Initiated (Counterpunch, 8/2/2024)
Mountain bikers push to ride through wilderness (Writers On The Range, 7/22/2024)
The Wilderness Act is still protecting nature, if we allow it (Desert Sun 5/19/2024)
The Wilderness Act at 60: A Brief Overview (Counterpunch, 5/17/2024)
Protecting Wilderness in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (Counterpunch, 3/7/2024)
The Bureau of Land Management is ignoring its most serious land-health problem (Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 9/8/2023)
Wild, natural Wilderness requires restraint (Missoula Current, 8/29/2023)
The ‘Protecting America’s Rock Climbing Act’ is still an imminent threat to wilderness (Park Record, 7/17/2023)
New Isle Royale wolves ironically diminish island’s wildness (Counterpunch, 7/14/2023)
Why chainsaws in Wilderness matter (Spokesman-Review, 7/2/2023)
The “Protect America’s Rock Climbing Act” is an imminent threat to Wilderness (Counterpunch, 6/16/2023)
Mountains don’t need hardware (Writers on the Range, 6/10/2023)
Wilderness Needs Our Humility and Restraint, Not Our Poison (Salt Lake Tribune, 5/28/2023)
On trial: Forest Service’s failure to control motorized towboats (Duluth News Tribune, 5/16/2023)

Below are some op-eds from previous years.

Photo: Cottonwood Canyon Wilderness, Arizona by BLM