skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, March 29, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Study: Wildlife Draws Huge Crowds to Idaho BLM Lands

play audio
Play

Friday, September 28, 2018   

BOISE, Idaho – Wildlife on Idaho's Bureau of Land Management lands provides a big economic boost to the state, according to a new report.

A first-of-its-kind study conducted by Southwick Associates finds there were more than 460,000 hunting trips, nearly 300,000 fishing trips and more than 190,000 visits to see wildlife on Idaho BLM lands in 2016. Those excursions generated $85 million in salaries and wages.

Executive Director of the Idaho Wildlife Federation Brian Brooks says hunting and fishing are Idaho traditions, and this shines a light on their critical role in the state's economy.

"BLM lands provide many things to the citizens of Idaho, both economically and culturally, and I think this report just shows that we really need to balance the resources out on BLM lands,” says Brooks. “And wildlife should not take a back seat among those resources."

Nearly 12 million acres of land in the Gem State are managed by the BLM. The report also found hunting, angling and wildlife-viewing supported more than 2,500 jobs in Idaho and generated $15 million in state and local tax revenue.

Rob Southwick, president of Southwick Associates – which did the research, says it's important to note that local – and usually rural – communities are the ones seeing the largest economic benefits here.

"Typically with fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing, it occurs in rural areas, which puts it out of sight, out of mind,” says Southwick. “And as a result, people often don't understand how significant it might be."

The study also looked at BLM lands in 11 other western states. In the 12 states combined, hunting, fishing and wildlife-watching generated more than a billion dollars in salaries and wages, and supported more than 26,000 jobs in 2016.

Support for this reporting was provided by The Pew Charitable Trusts.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

play sound

Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

Social Issues

play sound

Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …


The U.S. teaching workforce remains primarily white while the percentage of Black teachers has declined. However, the percentage of Asian and Latinx teachers is rising.(WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobestock)

Social Issues

play sound

Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

Environment

play sound

New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Social Issues

play sound

Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

play sound

Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021