On June 18, the same day the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals thought it was too far-fetched that a grizzly bear could be killed over a black bear bait station, news broke that a hunter had just killed a threatened grizzly bear at a bait station on national forest land near the Lower St. Joe River in Idaho.

Bait stations, which typically contain a combination of donuts, dog food, syrup, molasses, popcorn, and meat scraps, are used by ‘hunters’ to lure black bears in for an easy kill. Often the hunter will monitor their bait station with game cameras.

Idaho and Wyoming are the only states that allow bear baiting within the range of grizzly bears—and Idaho even continues to allow bear baiting in Wilderness! The Forest Service once regulated bear baiting practices on national forests, but in the 1990s, the agency ceded control to the states. At least 23 grizzly bears, which are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act, have been killed over bait since then, including some trying to return to their historic home range in and around the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness of central Idaho. Even more grizzly bears have been killed by state and federal agencies after becoming habituated to human foods.

So, back in 2019, Wilderness Watch and our allies filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Forest Service to stop the killing of grizzly bears at bait stations. While the recent 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling effectively ended that lawsuit, we immediately started exploring new legal options once the tragic news broke that a hunter had killed a threatened grizzly bear the very same day at a bait station on national forest land.

Even more devastating, according to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, “Two days prior to the incident, the hunter recorded video of the bear at the bait site and sent it to Fish and Game for review. The hunter expressed concern that the bear was a grizzly and not a black bear. Unfortunately, Fish and Game staff misidentified the young bear as a black bear because it lacked some common features of a grizzly, and shared that misidentification with the hunter.” Public records further reveal Idaho Fish and Game staff telling the hunter that “we do not need griz in the Joe.”

The next day, the hunter went out and shot the grizzly bear at the bait station.

As Dana Johnson, Wilderness Watch’s attorney and policy director, told the media, “The killing of a threatened grizzly bear at a bait station near St. Maries is tragic on so many levels. The grizzlies who set out in search of new territory are beacons of hope—they are the bears who will reestablish home ranges in places like the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness and help reconnect and recover otherwise isolated and struggling grizzly bear communities. But we keep baiting and killing them. Incidents like this are tragic because they are so utterly preventable. It has to stop, and we’re not going away until it does.”

On July 15, Wilderness Watch, Western Watersheds Project, WildEarth Guardians, and Friends of the Clearwater—represented by the Western Environmental Law Center—sent a notice of intent to sue the State of Idaho for violations of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) over state hunting authorizations that put grizzly bears at risk.

We submitted the notice of intent to sue—a requirement of the ESA—to make sure no more threatened grizzly bears are killed at bait stations in Idaho and so grizzlies can find a safer path to reinhabiting their homelands in the Wildernesses of central Idaho. The State of Idaho has until September 13 to remedy the situation before we are able to officially file our lawsuit.

While there can be no justice for the grizzly bear killed by a ‘hunter’ over a bait pile on June 10, or any of the other grizzly bears killed over bait in recent years, Wilderness Watch will not stop exploring and exhausting all means to bring this unethical and senseless slaughter to an end.

Dignitaries and members of the community during a ceremonial turning of the soil Thursday morning for the groundbreaking of CEI’s new Future Tech Building. Watch highlights in the video above. | Video by Isabella Sosa-Salazar, EastIdahoNews.com

IDAHO FALLS – College of Eastern Idaho officially broke ground on its new Future Tech Building Thursday morning.

Construction on the 88,000-square-foot building is now underway in an empty field on the north side of the Idaho Falls campus. The two-level building will house energy, innovation and technology-related courses, such as cybersecurity and mechatronics, as well as IT and STEM programs.

“It’s constructed in a very open way. We don’t know what the careers are going to be in the future and it will be built in a way to accommodate that,” former CEI President Rick Aman tells EastIdahoNews.com.

RELATED | Construction slated to begin on new Future Tech building at CEI in June

In addition to classroom space, the building will have a conference center, field testing laboratories and a large gathering area for business and civic events, student group projects and bay space. Watch an animated fly-through of the building here.

The total cost of the project is about $50 million. Of that amount, about $32 million is being funded by taxpayers. The rest of the money is coming from grants and donations from the private sector.

The building is slated for completion in the fall of 2026.

During the groundbreaking, Aman noted this is his last official act as CEI’s president. Lori Barber, who previously served as the vice president of Academic and Student Affairs, was appointed to fill the role in June, which went into effect Thursday.

RELATED | College of Eastern Idaho appoints new president

CEI is the only educational institution in Idaho without a career and technical education building, according to its website. These courses are in high demand and the new building will solve a lot of challenges with inadequate space and limited resources so CEI can provide a “state-of-the-art” education for students.

Aman is thrilled to end his tenure by seeing this project come to fruition after three years of planning.

“What a fitting end, what a wonderful completion for me in my tenure as president. I couldn’t be more proud,” Aman says.

RELATED | College of Eastern Idaho President Rick Aman to retire in July

Barber was heavily involved in planning for this building in her previous role and is excited to oversee its construction.

“I certainly can’t think of a more exciting way to begin this journey than by celebrating the start of something so transformative for our students, faculty, staff and the community,” Barber said during the groundbreaking. “We’re not merely constructing a building, we’re laying the foundation for a legacy that will inspire and endure for generations to come.”

Anderson Construction has been selected as the general contractor for the project.

WATCH HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GROUNDBREAKING IN THE VIDEO ABOVE.

Alturas Lake – 1,740 rainbow trout

This alpine lake is located in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The lake is approximately 21 miles south of Stanley and 30 miles northwest of Ketchum.

Bayhorse Lake – 2,000 rainbow trout

Anglers will find good catch rates at this drive-in mountain lake. Primitive campsites are available. While you’re in the area, check out Little Bayhorse Lake. The two lakes are connected by a mile-long hiking trail.

Little Bayhorse Lake – 1,000 rainbow trout

Anglers will find good catch rates at this drive-in mountain lake, either from shore or a small boat. 

Cape Horn Lake #1 – 400 rainbow trout

This is the larger of two picturesque lakes endowed with fish, lily pads, and frogs. Especially well-suited to float tubes or a small boat, this lake offers limited shoreline access. The area is good for wildlife viewing and is Stop #20 on the Idaho Birding Trail. Camping is available at nearby Forest Service sites. No facilities are available here.

Hayden Creek Pond – 800 rainbow trout

This is a family-friendly fishing area in the high desert along Hayden Creek. Anglers will find ample bank fishing opportunities and a dock for anglers with limited mobility.

Meadow Lake – 1,800 rainbow trout

At over 9,100 feet in elevation, this is the highest mountain lake you can drive to in this region. The snow-melt lake is a beautiful setting for a fishing and camping weekend with unique wildlife viewing opportunities. A Forest Service campground next to the lake offers a stunning view of the surrounding Lemhi Mountains.

Salmon River – Fish will be stocked as follows:

• Section #6 – Lower Stanley to Sunbeam Hot Springs – 400 rainbow trout
• Section #7 – Sunny Gulch Campground to Stanley – 400 rainbow trout
• Section #8 – Decker Flats to Buckhorn Bridge – 800 rainbow trout

Stanley Lake – 1,100 rainbow trout

Here is a large mountain lake you can drive to. This is a popular spot known for its breathtaking views of the Sawtooth Mountains. It offers great camping, fishing, and places for kids to explore nature.

Valley Creek – 500 rainbow trout

Take a break from the Salmon River and try out your casting skills fishing this creek that offers astonishing views in every direction!