Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Ms. Allen. I'm Terry Allen, and I'm a housewife and mother from Bonners Ferry, and my husband Joe Allen who is a chief deputy for Boundary County could not make it today, but he did submit testimony. I'm addressing the elimination of the caribou from north Idaho due to possible logging operations, and the pristine old growth forests of North Idaho in the Long Canyon area is a prime year-round habitat for the endangered caribou. The midaltitude cedar and hemlock growth provide fall, early winter, and early spring mating and feeding grounds, according to a Canadian study. In addition, the higher altitude, subalpine, and spruce and fir stands provide the essential life that the caribou need for their winter food supply. And studies show that last year the caribou herds that roam south of the Canadian border numbered a mere 20 animals. And this is due to the various intrusions on their established range areas because of large scale logging operations, the adjoining access roads, and the clearing for gas and power lines. And these all lend to the destruction of traditional movement corridors from one range to the next of the caribou, and destruction of valuable food sources, and an influx of people, which could drive away these animals that have been labeled by the U.S. Forest Service as a sensitive species. And since then there have been reports of as many as 26 to 30 animals that exist in the Selkirk area, and I would like to be a part of a society that recognizes these animals and provides them with a habitat suitable for them. Thank you.