Forest Service’s Wilderness Helicopter Plan Draws Opposition

Boise, ID—The U.S. Forest Service today came under fire for approving a plan to use helicopters to capture wolves in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, violating a decade-long policy against using machines in these pristine, protected areas. 
Six conservation groups filed a lawsuit in Boise to join an existing lawsuit challenging the plan’s validity, arguing that helicopters clash with the spirit and law of official wilderness areas.

"The Idaho Department of Fish and Game has the right to monitor and manage Idaho's wildlife, but the techniques used need to be consistent with the protection of wilderness resources on public land,” said John Robison, public lands director for the Idaho Conservation League. “There are proven ways to do both without landing helicopters in the Frank Church Wilderness.”


In December 2009, the Forest Service approved the use by Fish and Game of helicopters to capture and radio-collar wolves in the wilderness area, where machines are prohibited, except is specific cases like emergencies. In 2006, the Forest Service rejected a similar  request, stating that an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement would be needed.

The groups who filed today’s suit argued that the Forest Service fast-tracked approval for the Fish and Game’s proposal and failed to examine other means to accomplish its effort and that the approval violates the Forest Service’s obligation to protect the wilderness area.
 

According to the Forest Service, 95% of those who commented on this proposal opposed it.
 
In a declaration supporting the litigation, Tom Kovalicky, a retired Forest Service supervisor with more than 30 years experience, said that allowing Idaho Fish and Game to use helicopters to radio-collar wolves would “destroy the Forest Service’s past record on administration of wilderness and forever change the management of wilderness areas.”


In another declaration, Dr. Jim Peek, prominent Idaho wildlife biologist with more than 50 years experience, called the Idaho Fish and Game’s proposal “flawed” and “not a valid research project because it does not have a comprehensive study plan.”


“The Forest Service’s plan is flawed, unnecessary, and unpopular with experts and the public,” said Craig Gehrke, regional director for The Wilderness Society. “It violates the Forest Service’s obligation to protect the wilderness character of the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness.”

“The solace of wintertime in the Frank Church Wilderness is the epitome of what Winter Wildlands Alliance and our members work to protect and to experience,” said Mark Menlove, Winter Wildlands Alliance executive director. “Our members go into the Frank Church seeking a winter wilderness experience with the understanding that it isn’t supposed to be easy or convenient—that’s part of the appeal. We go there to challenge ourselves and to experience wild country on its own terms. Using helicopters in this case isn’t necessary, it isn’t legal and it violates the very wilderness values that the Frank Church Wilderness was set aside to protect.”
 


“Great Old Broads for Wilderness has spent the last 20 years working to protect wild places like the Frank Church Wilderness from incursions that are contrary to the letter and intent of the Wilderness Act,” said Ronni Egan, executive director for the group. “My friends and I plan to spend time hiking and looking for wildlife in the Frank Church this winter, and I certainly hope we won’t be subjected to helicopters running all the animals off.”
 

“Our members worked years ago to secure protection for this wilderness as a refuge for people and wildlife,” said Jessica Ruehrwein, chapter director of the Sierra Club. “We are dismayed to find that today the solitude we fought to protect for this magnificent wild place is to be ruined by helicopters.”
 

The groups filing today’s lawsuit join an existing lawsuit filed on December 31, 2009, by Western Watersheds Project and the Wolf Recovery Foundation. These groups include the Idaho Conservation League, The Wilderness Society, Winter Wildlands Alliance, Great Old Broads for Wilderness, Sierra Club and Wilderness Watch.

According to the public comment record on this proposal, more than 30 successful wolf captures and radio collars were accomplished in the wilderness without the use of helicopters for capture. It is not known if those collared wolves were killed during Idaho’s wolf hunting season.

Contacts:
John Robison, Idaho Conservation League                 208-345-6942 x 13
Craig Gehrke, The Wilderness Society                           208-867-9970
Mark Menlove, Winter Wildlands Alliance                  208-338-2373
Jessica Ruehrwein, Sierra Club                                           208-866-6322
Veronica Egan, Great Old Broads for Wilderness       970-385-9577