In November, the federal government said it was planning on designating nearly 600 square miles of land in northern Idaho and Washington state for caribou, which the commissioners in Bonner County feel could harm local economies, according to the Idaho Statesman.

The commissioners approved a proposal to work with a public interest law firm that deals with property rights, and spend up to $10,000 to oppose the federal plan.

The estimated caribou population in the area is estimated to be less than 50, which the the commissioners feel is much too small to designate the area as a habitat.

The local economies, say the commissioners, depend on logging, outdoor activities such as snowmobiling and forest access.