Bridger-Teton hosts public discussion

JACKSON -The Bridger-Teton National Forest is hosting a public panel discussion on science and motorized recreation on the forest Wednesday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Dining Lodge Room of the Teton Science School in Jackson.

Biologists, members of the off-highway-vehicle community, grizzly bear experts, state motorized trail officials and habitat biologists, among others, will be part of the panel.

There will be an opportunity for questions and to meet the panelists during the program.

The event is part of a travel plan revision process currently being developed by the B-T. Forest officials are working to designate a motorized road and trail system in the northern zone of the forest.

GREEN RIVER - The public is getting a chance to help Bureau of Land Management officials determine how best to use public lands in central Wyoming over the next decade.

Federal officials in the BLM's Lander field office are asking the public to provide resource information, issues and concerns as the BLM begins the process of revising its current Lander Resource Management Plan. As part of the project, an environmental impact statement is being prepared.

The current plan, approved in 1987, provides the guidance and direction for the management of most of Fremont County and smaller portions of Natrona, Sweetwater, Carbon and Hot Springs counties.

The plan has been amended five times since 1987.

Officials said a variety of issues and concerns in the face of emerging issues and changing laws is prompting the revision of the plan. Those major issues include energy development, access, recreation, wildlife habitat and migration corridors, endangered species, livestock grazing, and wind energy management, among others.

BLM officials said a 60-day comment period will close April 16. Comments should be sent to the BLM's Lander Field Office, 1335 Main Street, Lander, 82520.

Dog flu revisits Cheyenne animal shelter

CHEYENNE - The Cheyenne Animal Shelter is seeing its second outbreak of dog flu in less than a year.

In separate quarters, the shelter is housing 19 dogs that are showing symptoms, shelter executive director Alan Cohen said Friday.

Nine are coughing, and 10 have runny noses.

All 77 dogs and 11 puppies at the shelter will be quarantined, and the quarantine is expected to last until at least March 2. Until then, no one can adopt dogs from the shelter or bring any in.

Last May, the shelter faced its first outbreak of this ailment, which was first identified in 2005.

Following the advice of several local veterinarians, the shelter euthanized 42 sick dogs in hopes of preventing the spread of the illness. The move angered many in the community who said it was unnecessary to kill the dogs.

Cohen said the shelter is handling the dog flu differently this time and does not plan to euthanize the ailing dogs.

Since canine influenza is a virus, all that can be done is treat the symptoms and wait for the dogs' immune systems to fight it off.