Hi folks – A few of your comments from the last two weeks did not post. I apologize. They got caught in some sort of spam box and I missed them. Jim K posted a nice reply on CDC stats among several others. They are now posted.

You can view some of them here:

http://www.wilderness-sportsman.com/wsblog/2009/12/21/breaking-news-a-dramatic-defeat-for-republicans-as-the-senate-passes-health-care-reform/

http://www.wilderness-sportsman.com/wsblog/2010/01/28/montana-rock-creek-bighorn-herd-hit-by-deadly-pneumonia-outbreak/

Unbelievable. The quake was designated an 8.8, one of the ten most powerful in recorded history. I have been watching the local coverage in Hawaii as they evacuate the coasts.
Let’s hope that this tsunami peters out at sea. There is still a long time for it to go to reach Hawaii shores.

We don’t get many of those around here. Woke up last night at about 4 AM with the entire house shaking. You could hear what sounded like a giant train as dishes and furniture shook. The “train” sound was actually the groaning of frozen houses around the neighborhood reacting to the tremors. I’ve been in one other earthquake in the Gallatin National Forest while camping. If I remember correctly it was the summer of 2005.

The Illinois quake this morning was originally reported as a 4.3, but was downgraded to 3.8. We were about 30 miles from the center. I’m sure this is boring news to many westerners, lol.

We will keep you updated…..

This is the home of the guy who killed “Mercy” the cat.

A SWAT team is involved, and a large section of the neighborhood has been sectioned off preventing access.

The question I have is WHY wasn’t this guy taken into custody to begin with?

UPDATE: The standoff is over and an ambulance was seen leaving the scene without its lights on. No other news at this time.

UPDATE II: Video of Mercy the cat. Looked like a great animal. RIP, Mercy.

UPDATE III: Gary Bassett has killed himself. Apparently he did so as police were attempting to serve an arrest warrant.

Some people are probably asking “why is this being posted on a public land/wildlife” site, and my answer is because it’s a case study in how some people view creatures that aren’t human. Also, this cat needs all the help it can get. The adoption center received $2500 in donations and the cat is off to a hopsital where they will determine if it has permanent paralyisis. If so, the cat will be put down. Check out the link and look at the image of this animal. That my friends, is what you call a good spirit. It is a bond that we have with every living thing on this earth. People like Gary Bassett are not in that club.

Link

Keep your fingers crossed for a kitten that hasn’t had much luck with homo sapiens. And for Gary Bassett, the less people like him on this planet, the better off we all are, whether two legs or four.

EDIT: Mercy was euthanized this evening. Gary Bassett stills roams Montana…..

EDIT: I spoke with the attorney’s office and they said the matter is in county hands right now as they are trying to go for a felony. You can contact their office at:

406-258 4737

Gary basset allegedly threw a kitten against a wall, stomped on it and then tried to flush it down a toilet. Amazingly enough this cat survived and is now at the Missoula Animal Shelter:

Animal Control
6700 Butler Creek Road
Missoula, MT 59808
Phone: (406) 541-7387

The cats name is “Mercy”, and needs $900 to help fix a smashed pelvis. Make the check out to:

Friends of the Shelter

Mail to: Missoula Animal Control, 6700 Butler Creek Road, Missoula, MT 59808

Really disturbing story. I am stunned that this man was not taken to jail. To treat a critter like this is a serious sign of underlying issues.

Link

mayorstaff@ci.missoula.mt.us

attorney@ci.missoula.mt.us

One of the plan alternatives supposedly reduces domestic sheep grazing by 60% in the Salmon River canyon and Hells Canyon. Domestic sheep and bighorn do not mix. Bighorn can easily catch pneumonia from them.

Link

This is shocking. It’s part of a new book by audio ecologist Gordon Hempton. In the interview, Hempton claims that the average noise free interval in a wilderness area during daytime has shrunk to five minutes. The main culprit here is air traffic.

Link