Idaho
Environmental coalition threatens lawsuit over black bear baiting in Idaho
SPOKANE — A coalition of environmental groups has notified the state of Idaho that it plans to file a lawsuit over the use of bait for hunting black bears in habitat occupied by federally protected grizzly bears.
Western Watersheds Project, WildEarth Guardians, Wilderness Watch and Friends of the Clearwater sent Idaho Gov. Brad Little and other officials a 60-day notice of intent to sue over the practice, which they argue poses a threat to grizzlies and violates the Endangered Species Act.
It comes about a month after a hunter in Northern Idaho shot a grizzly over a bait site in the mountains along the St. Joe River after officials with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game misidentified it as a black bear.
Dana Johnson, policy director for Wilderness Watch, said in a news release that the June killing of the grizzly was “tragic and completely preventable.”
“We’re submitting this notice of intent to sue to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” Johnson said.
Grizzly bears in the Lower 48 states have been listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act since 1975. Biologists estimate there are roughly 2,000 now, with most of them in large populations in and around Glacier and Yellowstone national parks.
Idaho’s grizzlies are mostly found in the eastern part of the state near Yellowstone and in the Selkirk and Cabinet mountain ranges in Northern Idaho. The bears are known to wander long distances, however, and they’ve been showing up in unexpected places.
The bear that was shot last month near St. Maries was well outside of areas with well-documented resident populations.
Idaho and Wyoming are the only states with known grizzly bear populations that allow black bear hunters to use bait.
The practice is outlawed in some Idaho hunting districts with high numbers of grizzlies. In others that may have grizzlies, the state warns hunters that they could encounter the threatened bears, and officials have worked to educate hunters on the differences between the two species.
But the environmental groups argue that allowing bait at all presents problems for grizzlies beyond mistaken-identity kills. Bears that access bait sites can become conditioned to human foods, which can lead to bear-human conflicts that result in grizzlies being killed.
Three of the groups behind this week’s notice unsuccessfully sued to end black bear baiting in 2019. Johnson said the previous challenge focused on a section of the Endangered Species Act that deals with consultation requirements between federal agencies.
On Saturday, the United States and Israel launched major strikes in Tehran, with President Trump calling for an Iranian regime change.
RELATED | Trump announces ‘major combat operations’ in Iran, reportedly killing hundreds
President Trump authorized the U.S military operation without congressional approval, a decision that Democrats in Congress are arguing is unconstitutional.
RELATED | Trump’s Iran attack raises legal concerns among Democrats in Congress
Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea says Democrats are “demanding answers and accountability on behalf of the American people, who are being dragged toward another open-ended war they do not support.”
Necochea says her greatest concern lies with American troops, contractors and civilians who she says “did not choose this conflict.”
“Idaho has thousands of active-duty servicemembers, National Guard members, and military families who live with the consequences when leaders make reckless choices,” she says.
However, not all lawmakers share Necochea’s sentiments.
Idaho Republican representative Mike Simpson commends President Trump’s “decisive action” in Iran.
Idaho News 6
“Iran was given every opportunity to resolve this peacefully through negotiations but chose not to,” Simpson said in a post to Facebook. “I commend President Trump for taking decisive action against a regime responsible for decades of terror. May God protect our men and women in uniform on this vital mission.”
POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Nearly two-thirds of Idaho voters approved Medicaid expansion, but local leaders say that coverage is now at risk.
According to the organizers of a town hall set for Saturday, February 28, proposed changes could severely impact Idaho’s rural hospitals and leave thousands of residents without access to healthcare.
The town hall, titled “Protecting What Works: Medicaid Expansion in Idaho,” will take place at Chubbuck City Hall from 10:30 a.m. to noon.
A panel of representatives from across the healthcare sector — including home health, hospitals, and public and community health — will answer questions about how Medicaid expansion works in Idaho and how potential cuts could affect communities. Organizers say there will also be time for audience questions.
One of the event organizers told Local News 8 why the discussion is important:
“There have been conversations in the last couple of legislative sessions about either fully repealing Medicaid expansion or making significant cuts to Medicaid,” Shantay Boxham, the organizer, said. “This is an educational forum to ensure voters and community members have the information they need about what the program is, what’s at stake, and how it supports Idaho and Idahoans.”
There are limited seats available for the meeting. To reserve a spot, visit members.pocatello.com.
Local News 8 will continue to follow this story and have updates tomorrow.
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