Carter Mountain Timber Sale: So Far, So Good

by Kelly Matheson

Carter Mountain Photo by US Forest Service

Carter Mountain, on the Absaroka Front south of Cody, is home to a number of spectacular wildlife species, including grizzlies, the Greybull wolf pack and the Cody elk herd. The area is nationally renowned for its abundant big-game hunting opportunities.

Recently, a new and unwanted species moved into the neighborhood. Several years ago, the spruce bark beetle found its way into conifer stands on the mountain. These tiny quarter-inch beetles can cause extensive tree mortality, benefiting some wildlife species, such as woodpeckers, while adversely affecting others, such as elk. The natural process that these beetles set in motion has now killed up to 80% of Englemann spruce on Carter Mountain.

Because standing dead timber only remains merchantable for approximately three years, timber companies want to cut 10 to 15 million board feet from this spectacular landscape.

At first glance, it appears that some timber could be harvested from this area without significant impacts to wildlife, as long as the proposed timber sale is properly analyzed and executed. Officials with the Shoshone National Forest have already promised that timber will not be harvested from roadless areas, that logging will only be permitted after significant snowfalls to avoid creating skid trails and that existing roads in the area will be decommissioned and permanently closed in conjunction with this project.

The conservation community appreciates the Wapiti Ranger District's thoughtful approach to industry's Carter Mountain logging proposal. However, to ensure wildlife protection and forest health, conservation groups have asked the Forest Service to adopt additional measures to safeguard grizzly bear den sites and bear feeding areas, maintain hiding and thermal cover for elk and preserve habitat for cavity-nesting species.

If the agency mandates these protections, this may be one of the first times the conservation community will not challenge a timber sale on the Shoshone National Forest for apparent legal violations and adverse ecological effects.

As we went to press, the Forest Service had issued its Environmental Assessment and provided a 30-day public comment period for citizens to weigh in with their opinions about a timber sale that will be one of the largest in this forest's history.