Fishers Are Coming to Washington

Conservation Northwest is pleased to have played a key role in bringing about the reintroduction of a native forest-dwelling mammal to Washington State. Right now the National Park Service and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife are working with BC biologists to translocate Pacific fisher from areas such as the Chilcotin in British Columbia to Olympic National Park. Some of the animals destined for relocation are already awaiting their new digs; and although the release date hasn't yet been decided, it's coming up soon. We'd like to introduce you to some of the first fisher destined for translocation: Anna, Bridgette, Ellie, Frankie, Betty, the shy one, Devon, a real sweetheart, Alvin, the youngster, and Conan, the tough guy, who ate his way through a divider, causing wildlife biologists to reinforce the transport boxes destined to move the fisher to Washington!

 

Citizen Science and Cascades Wildlife

Together with the Wilderness Awareness School, Conservation Northwest and the I-90 Wildlife Bridges Coalition are sponsoring a project that features citizen volunteers heading into the field during all seasons of the year to document wildlife presence in the Cascades near Interstate 90. The Cascades Citizen Wildlife Monitoring Project combines snowtracking in the winter months with all-year-round remote camera work. The snowtracking stories that result are fun and varied, including trailing a pine marten's walk within the Hyak corridor.

 

 

 

 

Protecting Wetlands from Grazing:
A MOU for a Moo

Reason and cooperation wins out for the environment on national forest lands south of Mount Rainier: Last year's 10-year management plan update for the Ice Caves Grazing Allotment originally did little to protect fragile wetlands and rare plants and wildlife from the impact of too many cattle. But a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) achieved by the Gifford Pinchot Task Force and Conservation Northwest with the Forest Service now helps protect the lands from overgrazing. The agency agreed to reduce the number of cow/calf pairs to a level the system can better withstand, and ensure that local streams are protected with fencing partially paid for and maintained by the permittee. Each year the Forest Service will evaluate in writing whether Aquatic Conservation Strategy protections for fish and streamside wildlife are being met. The agency also pledged to work toward retiring the nearby Twin Buttes Grazing Allotment.

 

Local Solutions to Global Warming

Lobbying your state representatives can be fun–and effective. On January 23rd, speak up for a healthy Washington during "Priorities for a Healthy Washington," when the state's environmental groups hold their annual lobby day in Olympia. The goals this year? Create climate action and green jobs, foster evergreen cities, support local farms for healthy kids, and envision local solutions to global warming. Last year's legislative session was a banner year for the environmental community and citizen volunteers helped pass all four priorities. We can do it again!