Wolves, Bears and a Crazy Mountain Key Swap
We have quite a few updates on the Yellowstone Wolf Hunt, tomorrow’s Bear Fair at the Livingston Farmers Market and a key swap this weekend in the Crazy Mountains.
Yellowstone Wolf Update
On Thursday, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet to discuss the wolf quotas for the 2022-23 hunting season.
We are taking special interest in the meeting because it will help decide how many Yellowstone wolves will be killed in southern Park County.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks proposed a 10-wolf quota in a newly combined hunting district (Wolf Management Unit 313) that encompasses all of southern Park County, from the Gardiner area to Silver Gate-Cooke City.
Already, two commissioners have submitted amendments to lower the quota even further (Pat Tabor submitted an amendment for six wolves, while Pat Byorth submitted one for four wolves).
We joined Wild Livelihoods, Bear Creek Council, NRDC, the National Parks Conservation Association and the Greater Yellowstone Coalition to advocate for a lower wolf quota of as few as possible.
In the past, the district was split into two wolf management units (313 and 316). Last year, 21 wolves were killed in those districts – by far, a record. In fact, an entire pack – the Phantom Lake pack – was eliminated. This happened after the commission removed long-standing quotas and allowed aggressive new hunting tools, such as baiting and night hunting, and allowing a single hunter to kill up to 10 wolves.
The meeting will begin Thursday, August 25 at 8:30 a.m. It will take place in Helena and on Zoom. You can see the agenda here.
If you wish to make a public comment, you must register by Wednesday, August 24 at noon. You can register here.
(FWP seems to be having problems with its website. These links have been working on and off. If it doesn't work now, try again in a little bit.)
Join us TOMORROW at the Livingston Farmers Market for a Bear Fair to learn about how to live with our wild neighbors. More info is available below:
Bear Fair at the Livingston Farmers Market
Wednesday, August 24, 4:30pm-7:30pm
Miles Band Shell Park
Join PCEC and our partner the Greater Yellowstone Coalition along with guest educators from Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks to learn all about bears. Participate in fun and educational stations that will include information about securing attractants, fun facts about bears, where to get bear proof trash cans, and how to prepare for and act when recreating in bear country. These stations will be geared for all ages!
Participants from the Livingston Bike Club and PCEC members during the 2021 Porcupine Ibex Key Swap and Trail Clean Up.
Crazy Mountain Key Swap
This Saturday, August 27, the Livingston Bike Club is sponsoring a key swap and corridor-clearing bike-thru on the Porcupine Ibex Trail.
This is part of LBC’s USFS trail adoption commitment. The focus will be on clearing the trail corridor with chainsaws, but anyone who just wants to ride, hike or run is welcome! Meet at the Lincoln School parking lot at 7:00AM. Details regarding shuttle TBA.
Hikers or runners will start at the opposite side and key swap with bikers. The trail is about 16 miles long.
RSVP and/or contact Robin Barker for more details at (406) 600-0224.
Thanks to everyone who braved the weather on Monday night to visit the Lighted Teepees: Resiliency of the People by Pretty Shield Foundation and Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council in Gardiner.
If you haven't been, they'll be up through August 28.
For a full schedule of events to commemorate Yellowstone's 150th anniversary, visit Yellowstone Revealed's schedule here.
