Groups sue to end Idaho wilderness copter landings

Environmental groups hope to prevent state helicopters from landing to collar wolves in central Idaho's Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, arguing in a federal lawsuit it violates a 1964 law that created backcountry preserves. State biologists aim to land the helicopters up to 20 times this winter during their annual big game count, and maintain the flights will be unobtrusive, with aircraft touching down for a few seconds while crews mount radio collars on up to 12 tranquilized wolves. The Wolf Recovery Foundation in Pocatello and Western Watersheds Project in Hailey contend the U.S. Forest Service's decision last month to let the Department of Fish and Game land the choppers in the 2.24 million acre wilderness was also done without the required environmental analysis. They've asked a judge to prevent the flights that are set to start in mid-January. "Such use of helicopters to hover above the ground and land in wilderness threatens to cause irreparable harm to plaintiffs and other members of the public, including by destroying their wilderness experiences and subjecting wild wolves to further persecution," according to the group's lawsuit. The use of motorized or mechanized travel is not normally allowed in congressionally mandated wilderness areas like the Frank Church...read more