Advocates sue USFS over shrlnking grizzly habitat standards
(USFS is trying ro shrink the zone to 1 acre, down from scientifically justified 2,500 acres, to accommodate logging)
https://missoulacurrent.com/grizzly-habitat-standards/
"Grizzly bear advocates are suing a second national forest in Montana for claiming grizzly bears need only an acre of forest to be safe.
On Tuesday, three wildlife advocacy organizations filed a complaint in Missoula federal district court against the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for changing their definition of what qualifies as secure grizzly bear habitat without considering the ramifications and the best-available science. The three plaintiffs are Native Ecosystems Council, Alliance for the Wild Rockies and Council on Wildlife and Fish.
The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest started off on the right foot, according to the plaintiffs, when it approved its most recent Forest Plan in 2021. At that time, the national forest chose to use the best-available science, which defined secure grizzly habitat as a minimum of 2,500 acres. The Fish and Wildlife Service concurred with that choice.
....
Recently, the Helena-Lewis and Clark Forest developed a 17,700-acre logging and burning project south of Elliston and U.S. Highway 12 between Garrison Junction and Helena. The Larabee Hat Project, approved last August, includes 1,266 acres of clearcuts, 1,854 acres of “intermediate” logging and 785 acres of pre-commercial thinning, serviced by an additional 17 miles of new temporary roads. Logging would take 3.5 years."....(more)