December 2008

Saying No to Wildlife's Midnight Hour

Conservation Northwest, together with other conservation groups and represented by Earthjustice, is suing the Bush administration for its most recent move to eviscerate the Endangered Species Act. The desperate "midnight" rule change drops the requirement that the government consult with federal wildlife scientists about the harm that projects and activities could cause to endangered species.

"Excluding scientists from the review process tears a giant hole in America’s safety net for wildlife," said Dave Werntz, science and conservation director for Conservation Northwest.

 

Cascades Critters Caught on Film

Hot off the press comes exciting first-year results from wildlife monitoring in the Cascades by the Cascades Citizen Wildlife Monitoring Project. The new report features thousands of images captured by dozens of cameras this past spring and summer by citizen volunteers throughout Washington's Central and North Cascades. Conservation Northwest remote cameras not only documented the first resident wild wolf pack in Washington since the 1930s, but also a rarely seen lynx in the Pasayten Wilderness and a Cascades red fox in the Teanaway.

Commenting on the wide diversity of animal images, project coordinator Marlo Mytty said, "Until you get these images back, you don't realize or think about all the wildlife that's out there that you're not seeing."

 

 

Join the Wildlife Chorus

2008 brought good tidings for mountain caribou, Pacific fisher, wolverine, lynx, and gray wolves. These wildlife carolers would come knocking at your door today, but this is their favorite season to be in the wild lands that Conservation Northwest, with your generous and energetic support, protected this year. Thank you! Our priorities in 2009 include protecting wilderness in the Columbia Highlands, as well as reversing eleventh-hour Bush administration regulations that are dangerous to wildlife and wildlands.

Please sing a song for wildlife this season. There are many ways you can help us keep the Northwest wild. One of the best ways is signing up as a Wildland Partner to become a regular, monthly giver. We also offer deliciously easy giving resources. Happy holidays to all of you as we move into a brand new day!

 

 

Washington State Environmental Priorities

We have a lot of work ahead this coming year and Conservation Northwest has already set priorities for wildlife and wildlands in 2009. We do part of our yearly work as members of the most effective coalition today for Washington's lands and water. The Environmental Priorities Coalition advances statewide legislation to protect our local environment with a network that is 30,000 people strong and growing.

Sign on today to the Environmental Priorities Coalition action alert network and you can keep up on actions during times when every call and email makes a difference. The main excitement happens during the legislative session and most of the alerts you'll receive will come during the first months of the year. The requests you receive will be the ones that count for Washington.