This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. We also mention companies of interest to preppers and survivalists that are located in the American Redoubt region. Today, a new look at wolf populations in the Redoubt. (See the Region-Wide section.)
Region-Wide
From the US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS): Service Announces Gray Wolf Finding and National Recovery Plan. A quote:
“Gray wolves are listed under the ESA as endangered in 44 states, threatened in Minnesota, and under state jurisdiction in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and portions of eastern Oregon and Washington.”
JWR’s Comment: This almost perfectly matches the footprint of The American Redoubt region.
Another quote from the FWS report:
“Based on the latest data as of the end of 2022, there were approximately 2,797 wolves distributed across at least 286 packs in seven states in the Western United States.”
JWR’s Comment: The truth is that the FWS has completely lost count and location tracking of the western wolf packs. Several years ago, a wildlife biologist confided there are now many packs that have NO bio-chipped wolves or radio-collared wolves!
Linked at the same web page: National Dialogue Initiated on Working Landscapes and Gray Wolves.
JWR’s Comment: The management of the FWS is now operating in some sort of enviro-woke fantasyland. I’ve heard first-hand accounts and have seen images of real wolf “landscapes”, and they aren’t pretty. Here, for example, is a photo of a flock of 176 sheep that were killed by wolves near Victor, Montana, in 2013:
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Help Me Ben: Post Office Poaching.
Idaho
Idaho Lawmakers Propose Mandatory Prison Sentences for Fentanyl Traffickers. An excerpt:
“The proposed law would also create homicide charges for those who provide fentanyl that someone fatally overdoses on.
The Statesman broke down the penalties for anyone convicted under the bill:
Anyone in possession of 4-14 grams of fentanyl or 100-249 fentanyl pills would be sentenced to at least three years in prison and a minimum fine of $10,000.
Anyone in possession of 14-28 grams or 250-499 pills would be sentenced to at least five years in prison and a minimum fine of $15,000.
Anyone in possession of 28-500 grams or at least 500 pills would be sentenced to at least 10 years in prison and a minimum fine of $25,000.
The maximum penalties are life in prison and a $100,000 fine.”
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Judge denies Chad Daybell’s attorney to withdraw from case, may have to serve without pay.
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Wanted Lewiston man arrested in Coeur d’Alene.
Montana
In Billings: Fire Erupts At Montana Oil Refinery.
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Montana bighorn sheep hunting license sells for $380,000.
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Montana man found guilty of felony civil disorder during Jan. 6 riot.
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Rosendale expected to announce Senate run soon, per reports.
But then there was this refutation: Rosendale announcement just speculation, per official spokesperson.
Central & Eastern Oregon
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Five deer found dead near Smith Rock in ‘accidental’ poisoning.
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Central & Eastern Washington
An announcement from Cathy McMorris Rodgers: Leading House Republican Announces Retirement From Congress.
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Gun law attorney William Kirk has this very bad news for Washington FFLs: How Washington State Will Destroy the FFL Industry. JWR’s Comments: Presumably, this will also make it impossible to operate gun shows in Washington, since private party gun sales have already been banned, with all transfers of post-1898 guns now processed through FFLs.
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AG Ferguson: Federal Way gun store to pay $3 million for illegally selling high-capacity magazines.
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Drug trafficker sentenced to 9 years in prison.
Wyoming
Casper Men Charged With Smash-And-Grab Theft Of AR-15, Ruger .45, Other Guns.
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Wyoming skier carried 1,500 feet by avalanche in Grand Tetons.
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Rare Earths Discovery Near Wheatland So Big It Could Be World Leader.
Send Your News Tips
Please send your American Redoubt region news tips, event announcements, and American Redoubt-based companies worthy of a mention to JWR. You can do so either via e-mail or via our Contact form.