Outdoors

...now browsing by category

 

A few missing comments

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

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/2010/01/17/montana-man-sentenced-to-federal-prison-for-illegal-atv-trail-in-the-gallatin-national-forest/

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/

Huge quake hits Chile, tsunami expected for Hawaii

Saturday, February 27th, 2010

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.

Mountain stream, Gallatin National Forest

Friday, February 19th, 2010

rivcopy

This beautiful mountain river is capable of taking down entire trees during spring snow melt. Pictured here in the fall, it is relatively calm. Many people flock to the beautiful national forests of Montana to see scenes like this. Any of these national forests would be the most popular park in the country if they were east of the Mississippi.

Illinois: Earthquake!

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

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.

BREAKING NEWS: Police standoff at the Missoula home of Gary Bassett

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

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.

Montana: “Mercy” the cat update

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

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

Tool of the Week: Gary Bassett of Missoula Montana

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

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

Idaho: Forest officials change plan for bighorn sheep

Sunday, January 31st, 2010

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

Montanans for Trap-Free Public Lands

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

Here we go, folks. These guys could really use your help in getting signatures to make the 2010 ballot which would trigger a vote on public land trapping in Montana’s(and the nation’s) public lands. This is a very important cause. Trapping is an antiquated and outdated “pastime” and needs to be gone. Trapping is not the “sportsman” way. We are no longer exploring unbroken, endless country needing these animals to survive as we map new territory. This country has moved on. So should trapping.

You can call for a petition sheet:

Call (406) 274-4791 or (406) 546-9945

View more options for obtaining petition sheets, or donate to the cause:

Montanans for Trap Free Public Lands

Montana sets the example for the rest of the nation with its vast and wild public land system. There’s no question that this trapping ban, when passed will be picked up by other states with large amounts of public land.

These guys need 25,000 signatures from registered Montana voters by June 18th. I aks any blog owners reading this to pass this story along. I also ask that readers here “Digg” this story (lower left icon here at the botton of the post) in order to gain awareness of this issue.

The Sound of Silence: Europe no longer has any of it, only a dozen places in the U.S.

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

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