WOC Acts to Protect Wintering Wildlife

by Steve Jones

Concerns about the effects of winter commercial recreation on lynx, wolverines, bighorn sheep and other wildlife in the Bridger-Teton National Forest prompted WOC and other conservation groups to file a lawsuit in federal court against the U.S. Forest Service. Our suit pointed out that the agency neglected to conduct legally required environmental studies when it issued permits to expand helicopter skiing and continue commercial snowmobile tours on the forest.

Last December, the Forest Service issued heli-ski permits across the Teton, Gros Ventre, Hoback, Wyoming and Snake River Ranges and commercial snowmobile-tour permits in the Granite Creek, Gros Ventre and Togwotee Pass areas, as well as segments of the Continental Divide Snowmobile Trail. Conservationists were particularly concerned about impacts on wintering bighorn sheep in the Hoback Range and wolverine dens in the Tetons. The agency failed to analyze how wildlife would be affected, violating the National Environmental Policy Act and the National Forest Management Act.

Our lawsuit brought swift action. The Forest Service agreed to ban helicopter overflights in the Hoback and Teton Ranges this winter. The agency has also agreed to examine the need to conduct environmental analyses for snowmobile permit requests before it issues any five-year permits.

But the lawsuit will continue. Represented by Earthjustice, WOC, the Greater Yellowstone Coalition and the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance will seek to minimize winter recreation impacts on wildlife in the Snake River Range, including the Palisades Wilderness Study Area (WSA). As a congressionally designated WSA, the Palisades' wildlife and wild character should be protected. Consequently, the groups will seek an order to delay the Forest Service's action in the Palisades and elsewhere in the range until it completes the necessary environmental studies.