Idaho
Officials advised Wood River Valley residents to remain alert after bear sightings
HAILEY, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — Multiple bear sightings have been reported in the Wood River Valley. Idaho Fish and Game officials are investigating a report of a black bear near Alturas Elementary in Blaine County.
With the bear near the elementary school, the school district issued a shelter-in-place order.
Idaho Fish and Game conservation officers and the Hailey City Police monitored the animal while they waited for biologists from Jerome.
Morgan Ballis, the school resource officer for Alturas Elementary, explained the police’s role in this situation.
“Our primary role was to make sure the public was safe,” Ballis said. “That means being on scene and keeping them away from that area, but also communicating with them via social media and other outlets to let them know what was going on.”
Terry Thompson from Idaho Fish and Game explained the biologist’s job.
“We came up with a dart gun we were able to anesthetize the bear and because this is a bear that just wandered into town, was not food conditioned, it was a good candidate for relocation,” Thompson said.
The biologists darted the bear and relocated it to Galina Summit.
The bear was found around this neighborhood but showed no signs of aggression, according to Idaho Fish and Game.
Although there is no confirmed cause for the bear’s arrival, there are reasons why an animal might leave its habit and come to a city.
“It’s been hot, and it’s been dry, so a lot of their natural food sources are not as available to them as they would be on a normal summer,” Thomas said. “So they’re coming into town, coming to valley bottoms, repairing areas along rivers and with houses comes residential garbage. So right now, what we’re seeing is some of these bears that are in town are getting into residential garbage.”
Thompson said there are different ways to protect yourself and your house from bears coming in.
“Securing your household garbage and when I see say secure, I mean keeping it in your garage, keeping it in a locked shed. You don’t want to have that bear having the ability to get to that garbage cart. The other things is don’t feed your pets outside and leave the food, take down your bird feeders.”
If you see a bear near a neighborhood, report it to Idaho Fish and Game. Call your local sheriff’s department if the bear appears aggressive or threatening.
Copyright 2024 KMVT. All rights reserved.
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.
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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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