Recreation proposal will hurt region's wildlife

The North Zone Winter Recreation proposal, developed by a collaboration of pro-motorized recreation groups will severely impact the ESA listed grizzly bear, and Canada lynx, candidate whitebark pine, and wolverine along with wolves, fisher and winter range. Actions of the Idaho Conservation League and Friends of Scotchman Peaks are indefensible. They support snowmobiles mowing down whitebark pines and high marking, impacting grizzly bear and wolverine denning habitat and bear year (when grizzlies are out of their den) snowmobiling in the Roman Nose and Moose Lake areas. This will harm female grizzlies with cubs. They stay near their snow-covered den sites after they emerge. Friends of Scotchman Peaks has a goat ambassador and yet supports this proposal that displaces traveling goats.

Opening up Upper Pack River will cause conflict with winter non-motorized activities. Why do non-motorized trail users have to sacrifice their trails to snow machines? Ridgelines that separate restricted from open areas will encourage violations by snowmobilers. Trapping access will increase, potentially impacting gray wolf, lynx, fisher and grizzly bears. Grizzly bears lose feet and toes from wolf and marten traps.

True green conservation groups who care about the Cabinets and Selkirks oppose this proposal. Over-snow snowmobile use was partially responsible for the loss of our Selkirk Caribou herd. We do not want to lose more species. Comments to the USFS are due Sept 15.

PAUL SIERACKI

Priest River